A male candidate at the Duampompo M/A Junior High School in Juaben, Ashanti Region, has abandoned the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to engage in illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
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According to a teacher at the school, the student claimed that mining would offer him a better financial future than completing his education.
“He told us he was going to look for money, and that would give him a better future than writing the exam,” the teacher revealed anonymously during a visit by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Eunice Ohenewaa Ansu.
Illegal mining remains a major concern in the Juaben municipality, particularly in the Bomfa area, which made headlines in 2024 for similar issues.
Municipal Director of Education, Phyllis Boateng, confirmed the student’s absence, noting that although he registered for the exam, he had stopped attending school.
The MCE said her office would follow up with the school’s headmaster, who was unavailable at the time of the visit.
Meanwhile, the MCE has warned all BECE candidates in Juaben to steer clear of examination malpractices to avoid having their results cancelled.
In total, 1,465 candidates, 757 males and 708 females, from 9 private and 34 public schools registered for the BECE in the Juaben Municipality. Across the Ashanti Region, 120,285 candidates are sitting for the exams, representing 20% of the national total.
