As the nationwide Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) kicks off today, thousands of junior high school students have converged at various examination centres to write the exams and obtain grades that will enable them to enter universities and other tertiary institutions of their choice.

As students made their way to their examination centres this morning, they felt a mix of emotions—excitement, nervousness, anxiety, and determination.

Due to the tense nature of the situation, most of the students reported that they skipped breakfast, while others were still reciting last-minute notes and prayers to boost their confidence in the exams.

To help the students overcome nervousness and boost their confidence throughout the weeklong examination, the Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma West Constituency, Rev. Kweku Addo, together with the MCE of the Ablekuma West Municipality, Nii George Kpakpo Allote, and the Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Christian Julius Aforlah, toured the examination centres to deliver motivational messages to the candidates.

Some of the centres they visited included Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church, Christian Home School, Okpoti Basic School, and Tunga Islamic School.

The examination halls buzzed with anticipation as invigilators and supervisors distributed the question papers and students settled in to tackle the challenges ahead.

Madam Sylvia Ewuntomah, a supervisor at Christian Home School, said everything went on smoothly and the candidates looked well-prepared.

As the morning progressed, students navigated through subjects like Social Studies and Computing. Some found the questions straightforward, while others encountered tricky problems that required careful thought.

The BECE examination is more than just a test; it's a milestone that marks the transition to the next stage of their educational journey. With each question answered, students took a step closer to realising their aspirations.

In an interview, Rev. Kweku Addo said education is one of his top priorities and he will do everything possible to ensure that the standard of education remains high in his constituency.

He said writing an exam is something that most people, including adults, find nerve-wracking, and that anxiety can sometimes set in.

He advised the candidates to remain calm and confident, adding that they should consider these exams like the mock exams they did as part of their preparation, and therefore should not entertain fear.

He also advised them not to engage in any examination malpractices, including cheating, saying that according to the law, if anyone is found cheating, the entire centre will be cancelled.

He revealed that the school shift system in his constituency is a major problem, which he is doing everything possible to abolish because it doesn’t promote effective education.

He expressed his confidence in the candidates based on the previous BECE records in the municipality.

According to him, Dansoman is among the top communities in Ghana with outstanding performance in education, and he therefore expects about 70% of the candidates to obtain high grades.