Two Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates sustained injuries following an attack by a swarm of wild bees.

The incident reportedly occurred when the male and female candidates were sitting for the English-language paper at the Deaf Centre in Wa on Thursday, June 12.

According to reports, the bees thronged the class after a staff member of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) pruned a tree close to the area.

The male candidate was treated and discharged in time to write the second paper, Career Technology, but not the first, after they were rushed to the Wa Municipal Hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, the female candidate is yet to be discharged from the hospital.

The Upper West Regional Controller of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Mr. Donald Tuor, has revealed that efforts are ongoing to seek clemency for the injured female candidate.

“We are considering pursuing a clemency case for her because it was not her fault. Though the subject is compulsory, it is not a core subject, so she can still be graded,” Mr. Tuor explained.

A total of 603,328 candidates are participating in this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The candidates, comprising 297,250 males and 306,078 females, are from 20,395 schools.

In a statement issued by the West African Examination Council on Monday, June 9, the Council noted that the number of candidates that registered for this year's BECE (SC) is 5.99% higher than the 2024 entry figure.

The exam for both school and private candidates that was initially scheduled to take place from June 9 to June 16 is now slated to end on Wednesday, June 18.

The exam will take place across various centres nationwide under strict supervision by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

According to the Council, measures have been laid out to ensure that candidates with special educational needs are supported throughout the examination process.

“Heads of school, parents and guardians should rest assured that adequate provision has been made to ensure that no child is left behind as far as the examination is concerned,” WAEC said.

As done in time past, WAEC cautioned students and all stakeholders against engaging in examination malpractices to avert the cancellation of results.

These include having inscriptions on any part of the body or clothing, posting live questions on the internet, refusal to grant timely access into the school premises, misconduct of examination officials, and multiple registration of candidates in both public and private schools.

The Council added that the revised rules are available on its website, and as such, “Heads of school, supervisors and invigilators should ensure that candidates adhere to these new rules.”refusing timely access toOverall, 569,236 candidates participated in the 2024 BECE, comprising 282,703 boys and 286,533 girls from 19,505 schools.

Special accommodations were provided for 59 visually impaired candidates, 263 with hearing impairments, and 161 others requiring specific assistance.

The exam took place at 2,123 centres nationwide, though 3,845 candidates were marked as absent. The BECE for Private Candidates had 1,390 participants, 750 males and 640 females, taking the exam at 15 centres across the country’s regional capitals. Among them, 57 candidates did not show up for the exam.

Some 33 school candidates and 3 private candidates had their results withheld due to investigations into possible irregularities. WAEC also flagged subject results from 149 schools, pending further investigations into reported malpractices.

Following thorough investigations, the Final Awards and Examiners' Appointment Committee, at its 35th meeting on October 16, 2024, decided to nullify the subject results for 377 school candidates and 3 private candidates.

Also, two teachers were arrested in Jachie Pramso, Ashanti Region, over alleged examination malpractice, following the earlier arrest of three teachers and two residents in Bekwai.

To avert the cancellation of results and legal issues, WAEC has urged this year’s candidates and teachers to avoid engaging in exam malpractices.

“A heartfelt encouragement to all of them and a reminder that they should remain calm, focused, and determined, and avoid all forms of examination malpractice. They have to believe in their own ability to succeed and to do that through the utmost effort and engagement,” he said.