Cape Coast: A total of 54 students with special needs, comprising 31 males and 23 females, are writing the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Central Region. Of the figure, students with low vision registered the highest number of 17, comprising eight males and nine females whereas candidates with muscular dystrophy, sickle cell, and speech disorder recorded one male and female each. The disabilities include low vision, blindness, hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, dysgraphia, sickle cell, speech disorders, cognitive disorder, and muscular dystrophy, largely from the Cape Coast school for the Deaf and Blind. They used various writing materials or concessions, including large prints, additional time, sign language interpreter, braille, and prompters.
According to Ghana News Agency, the examination started smoothly with a total of 67,146 students comprised of 33,554 boys and 33,592 girls writing at 237 centres across the Region. In all the centres visited in the Cape Coast Metropolis, the examination started on time and progressed smoothly. Dr Juliet Dufie Otami, Regional Director of Education, highly praised the candidates for their comportment and strict adherence to the examination rules after her tour of some examination centres. Dr Dufie highlighted the collaborative efforts of the Ghana Education Service and the West African Examinations Council in providing the necessary logistical support and human resources to assist candidates with special needs. These measures ensured that all candidates had equal opportunities to write their exams successfully.
She emphasised that no candidate would be left behind, particularly pregnant girls, although none were observed during her visit. Dr Otami urged parents to provide crucial support for their children during this important period by easing their home responsibilities, ensuring they got adequate rest, and motivating them to excel in their examinations. For the candidates, Dr Dufie appealed to them to avoid any form of examination malpractice, warning that such actions could jeopardise their future prospects. She called on them to uphold integrity and focus on their studies to achieve success.
Similarly, Mr George Justice Arthur, Metropolitan Chief Executive of Cape Coast, after conducting a thorough tour of several examination centres, encouraged the students to put forth their best efforts to succeed in their exams. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, he emphasised that excelling in these examinations would open doors for them to gain admission into the prestigious first-class senior high schools within the academic city of Cape Coast, known for its high educational standards and excellent learning environment. Mr Arthur reaffirmed the Assembly’s strong commitment to supporting academically good but financially disadvantaged students with scholarships and financial aid. The move, he said, was to ensure that no deserving student was left behind due to economic constraints.
In addition to this, he highlighted the Assembly’s dedication to improving educational infrastructure and addressing logistical challenges across schools in Cape Coast. This includes upgrading classroom facilities, supplying modern teaching materials, and enhancing transportation and other support services to create an enabling environment that fostered effective teaching and learning. Through these concerted efforts, he said, the Assembly aimed to nurture a generation of well-educated, skilled, and confident young individuals who would contribute meaningfully to the development of Cape Coast and the nation at large.