A startling incident unfolded on Thursday at the School for the Deaf examination centre in Wa, as a swarm of wild bees attacked candidates sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). The unexpected assault led to injuries for two students and caused significant disruption to the crucial national examination.
Mr. Donald Tuor, the Upper West Regional Controller of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), confirmed the details of the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Wa. He reported that two candidates, a male and a female, sustained injuries from bee stings and were immediately transported to the Wa Municipal Hospital for urgent medical attention.
Fortunately, the male candidate received swift treatment and was discharged in time to sit for the second paper of the day, Career Technology. However, the female candidate’s injuries were more severe, requiring her to be detained at the hospital for a longer period. This unfortunate circumstance resulted in her inability to write the Career Technology paper.
Mr. Tuor clarified that the bee attack occurred after the first paper, English Language, had concluded. The disturbance was caused by staff from the Northern Electricity Company (NEDCo) who were pruning a tree located near the examination centre. Their activities inadvertently agitated a beehive on the tree, prompting the aggressive swarm to attack.
Recognizing the extenuating circumstances for the affected female candidate, WAEC is taking steps to ensure fairness. “We are considering pursuing a clemency case for her (the female candidate who could not write the exam) because it was not her fault for not writing the exam,” Mr. Tuor stated. He further explained, “That paper is a compulsory subject, not a core, so even without it, she can still be graded,” offering reassurance that her overall BECE results may not be severely impacted by this unforeseen event.
Beyond the immediate incident, the WAEC Regional Controller also addressed ongoing concerns regarding examination malpractices in the Upper West Region. He affirmed his office’s commitment to “seriously dealing with issues of examination malpractices at some centres.” As a result of these efforts, one invigilator in the Wa Municipality has already been dismissed, and another is reportedly on the run, indicating robust action against irregularities.
Mr. Tuor issued a stern warning that “all reported cases of malpractice in the region would be investigated, and the perpetrators brought to book.” He also specifically cautioned teachers, stating that “any teacher who would be apprehended facilitating or committing any form of examination malpractice would be reported to the Director General of the Ghana Education Service for the necessary punitive measures.”
A total of 14,733 candidates are registered to write this year’s BECE in the Upper West Region, comprising 7,928 females and 6,805 males. These candidates hail from 620 schools, in addition to 169 private candidates. The examination is being conducted across 51 centres throughout the region, supported by nine examination depots. The bee attack, while unusual, underscores the unpredictable challenges that can arise during large-scale national examinations.
Source: http://thepressradio.com
