A teacher whose writing of the recent Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) with his pupils touched off massive debate says he took the decision to write because of a burning urge to continue his education and become a nurse. John Ahiale, said although he finished Middle School in 1987, some 23 years ago, he could not further his education because he had no money, he told Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Monday. In order to make some money, he decided to organize academic lessons for pupils in his community in the Kwaebibirem District. However, the proprietor of Mawuli International School, also in the district, decided to employ him as a pupil teacher. According to him, his hard work and dedication to the job made him rise through the ranks to become acting head teacher. Driven by his sensation to further his education, Ahiale, who teaches Mathematics, General Science and English at the school, said he decided to sit the BECE with his own pupils. Whilst he took private lessons from other teachers in the town in Ewe, French and other subjects which were not taught in the school, he assessed himself in English, Mathematics and General Science, subjects he taught his students from Junior School Schools 1 to 3. Asked whether his action was fair, Ahiale said he had informed the relevant authorities, including one Mr Agyekum who is in charge of the BECE in the district, before embarking on the endeavour. On the day of the exam, the teacher-candidate said he joined the assembly of candidates sitting the exam at the parade organized prior to the first paper. However, he was confronted by the invigilators who would not allow him to write his paper because they doubted the authenticity of his claim and was later picked up by the police. Index no 3 The final year students of Mawuli School had been asking about who owned Index No 3 but no one gave them any response, Ahiale said. He never told his students he had registered with that index number and only made them aware a few days to the exam date. According to him, although his students doubted he would sit the exam with them, “later on they believed and they were happy.” The students were excited about their teacher’s inclusion in their “squad” because he would reduce exam hall tension. The enthusiastic teacher was prepared to be attired like a regular JHS student but he decided to go in mufti. Dreams Ahiale’s will not give up on his dreams of becoming a nurse as he says he will defy all the odds to move on. “It’s as if something has been lost or missing in my life. This is not how I planned it…,” he indicated. Compulsory tuition The Director of Legal Affairs at the West Africa Examination Council, Frederick …., said although there is no age limit for candidates of the BECE, he says candidates must “do the right thing.” “The exam is structured in such a way that a candidate should receive three years of tuition and once you satisfy that provision, irrespective of age, you can write the paper,” he said. This will enable the candidate accumulate the 30-percent continuous assessment mark which is a prerequisite to completing basic education. Meanwhile, a listener to Joy FM, who identified himself only as Richard, has offered to pay Ahiale's fees to sit the next exam as well as reimburse him for all the expenses the teacher made in his attempt to sit the paper last month. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana