In spite of heavy rains early Monday, June 12, with some absences and late coming, the exams which started hitch-free are going on smoothly

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Douala is playing host to several candidates who were supposed to sit-in for the 2017 General Certificate of Education, GCE in the North West and South West Regions of the country. Since day one of the exams June 12, many of them are streaming into the city and sitting in for the crucial exams in various accommodation centres.

Over 133 such candidates have taken part in the GCE in Government Bilingual High School, Deido. The Principal of the school, Marc Eitel Nseke Edimo, said their writing the exams in the economic capital follows recent instructions from the Ministry of Secondary Education for all centres where the exam will be written to accommodate them. He further said the instructions gives room for any candidate from the two regions of the Anglophone section of the country to do so wherever they like. “The candidates are both those who registered for and those who did not register for the exam in their respective regions. We have been instructed to allow all who come to sit-in for the exams.”

Many of the candidates are expected daily across accommodation centres in the economic capital. The principal told Cameroon Tribune that in order to ensure the exam goes on hitch-free, government has ensured their transportation to Douala as well as to other towns. Most of the candidates, however, had no acceptance slip, no identity card, no individual timetable and had not registered for the exams.

Concerning security measures, police men have been deployed in most accommodation centres in the city. Their efforts are being strengthened by vigilante groups. In GBHS Deido, the group has been set up with the help of parents to watch over the centre.
Minor incidents like absences and late coming have been registered in most centres. Many attribute it to heavy rains that swept across Douala early Monday, June 12, the day of the start of the exams. Latecomers were however admitted into the exam halls.
 

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Marc Eitel Nseke Edimo: “We Have Hitch-free Measures in Place”

Principal, GBHS Deido

“The context today is special because it has bearing on the crisis in the two regions of the Anglophone section of the country. We didn’t know that things could happen this way. But we are happy things are going well. But I believe it will all go well throughout these three weeks of the exams. Some students from the regions don’t have the required documents but we have to accommodate them as instructed by the State. What we are requesting is proof that the candidates are from the North West or South West Regions. We will make a report to the GCE Board about this. Candidates should participate in the exams without fear. Government has taken all measures necessary for a hitch-free exam and a successful year.”

 

Penn Simon Moluh: “GCE Effectively Going On”

Parent

“I have come to this accommodation centre to see for myself if my children had a smooth kick off. I didn’t have anything different to do here but I have called around to see how the GCE is going on. To my view it is effectively going on. As a Pastor, I have many children who are candidates sitting in for the exams. I think it is my duty as any other parent to take interest in the education and well-being of my children by coming to see for myself how they have begun.”

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