A total of 24,420 candidates are writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 69 Centres in the Northern Region. The number is made up of 16,321 boys and 8,099 girls. In 2009, a total of 26,942 candidates made up of 16,499 boys and 10,433 girls sat for the BECE in the region. Mrs Elizabeth De-Souza, Reginal Director of Education, made this known when she and Mr Edward Gayoni, the Metropolitan Director of Education, visited some examination centres. In the Tamale Metropolis, 7,103 candidates from 99 public and eight private schools are writing the BECE. Mrs De-Souza was satisfied with the conduct of the examination, expressing hope that everything would go on smoothly for the rest of the examination. He described the attendance at the centres as excellent and orderly. Source: GNA