BECE chaos: Bees sting candidates in Wa, one girl misses exam

A swarm of wild bees attacked candidates taking the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at the Wa School for the Deaf on Thursday, injuring two students and causing a disruption in the exams.

The injured students, one male and one female, were quickly taken to the Wa Municipal Hospital for medical attention. The male student received treatment and was discharged in time to sit for the second paper, Career Technology, while the female student was kept for further observation and unfortunately missed the exam.

This incident took place shortly after the English-language paper when staff from the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) trimmed a tree near the examination center, inadvertently disturbing a beehive.

Mr. Donald Tuor, the Upper West Regional Controller of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), confirmed the occurrence in an interview. He mentioned that they are working on seeking clemency for the female candidate who was unable to take the exam.

“We are looking into the possibility of pursuing a clemency case for her since it was not her fault. Although the subject is mandatory, it is not a core subject, so she can still receive a grade,” Mr. Tuor clarified.

He also revealed that WAEC is currently investigating several instances of examination malpractice in the region. To date, one invigilator in the Wa Municipality has been dismissed, and another is currently evading capture.

“All reported incidents will be thoroughly examined, and anyone found guilty will face appropriate penalties,” Mr. Tuor stated, adding that teachers implicated in malpractice will be reported to the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service for disciplinary measures.

This year, a total of 14,733 candidates—7,928 females and 6,805 males—from 620 schools, along with 169 private candidates, registered for the BECE in the Upper West Region. The exams are being held across 51 centers, supported by nine examination depots.