Some 164,789 candidates began writing the 2014 examinations organised by the Cameroon General Certificate (GCE) Board,on Monday across the national triangle.
The candidates of both Ordinary and Advanced Levels, General and Technical, are spread in 1,068 examination centres and 590 centres, according to authorities of the Board.
The 2014 session has witnessed an increase in the number of candidates sitting for the eight different examinations organised by the Board, from 154.913 candidates in 2013 to 164,789 this year. This, according to the Registrar of the GCE Board, Humphrey Ekema Monono is a great challenge.
By press time, authorities of the Board were in the field to monitor the start of the exams across the country. When CT visited some examination centres in Buea, headquarter of the Board’s office Monday 26 May, exams were going on hitch-free in calm and serene campuses of BGS Molyko, GTHS Buea and PCSS Buea.
At the Bilingual Grammar School Buea, the largest accommodation centre hosting five different schools, the Principal Mrs. Lois Ebenye Ikome stated that the exams involving some 1,498 candidates started on a good footing and quite on time with Literature in English, Economics and Geology.
At the Government Technical High School Buea, the Principal and Chief of Centre, Mr. Mafany Paul Mbessa said all was set for the 965 candidates taking the GCE Technical examinations to begin the exams. He prescribed vigilance on the part of invigilators and reminded candidates to respect the rules and regulations of the exams. One of the candidates, Laureta Enow who is sitting in for the Advance Level, said the first subject was quite moderate for those who read.
Speaking on phone to the Divisional Delegate of Secondary Education for Ndian, Mr. Sube Keme Stephen, he affirmed that no major incident have been reported in the division apart from the fact that a shortage of question papers was reported in GBHS Ekondo Titi; a situation he said was quickly handled by photocopying the papers.
The South West Regional Delegate for Secondary Education, Mr. Ngundu Francis, by press time was in the field to take the pause of the exams said though it was too early to access the conduct of the 2014 session, confirmed that it has been hitch free so far across the region.