In all, we run about eight examinations and this year, for example, the examinations give us a total number of 142.472 candidates. I wish to state it here that there is increase from 115.000 candidates last year to over 142.000, which is more than 24 per cent increase. We have been experiencing 10-11 per cent increases because of the creation of new schools that are getting to Form Five. But this year, it is peculiar because of Class Seven that was harmonised to six years. So an influx of double streams of students got into secondary schools and they have now reached Form Five. That is why Ordinary Level registration figures moved staggeringly from 65.000 to 85.000 candidates.
How prepared is the GCE Board to handle the exams this year?
The GCE Board is prepared to tackle the 2012 examinations. Material for the examinations has all been produced, despite the fact that they have not been distributed. The instructions from hierarchy, the Minister of Secondary Education are clear and have been disseminated into the field. The various Regional Delegates have held their sectoral conferences in preparation for the 2012 examination. Furthermore, the practical part of the examinations started on (Tuesday May 8, 2012) with Chemistry and Food and Nutrition.
How does the Board manage physically challenged candidates during the official exams?
One of the centres for physically challenged candidates is BHS Buea, and the other one is in Banso. We have the two centres in the South West and North West Regions, respectively. EPHATHA Institute candidates in Kumba write in GTHS Kumba. If you do happen to be in one of the areas, you will find out that they use special braille paper. We Braille their question papers. They too write in Braille and it is translated and marked. We have invigilators from the centres where they are writing and also from the Bulu Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind, Buea as well as the other centre in Banso. They are being taken care of adequately. Unfortunately, some of their requests cannot be met.
Last year you were in the East Region when the exams were launched. What are your plans for this year?
I am a crusader of good practices as well as the crusader of a culture. GCE is presently a Cameroonian culture. It therefore means that you don’t neglect any part where it is being written. If I went to Bertoua, there were several reasons. I will state just two here. The first was an encouragement to both the staff and the students out there to know that what we are doing is not a Buea or Bamenda affair. Secondly, it was also to appeal to the educational community out there to cater for the science students. The tradition of laboratories is not yet part of the culture. So those students who do well at the Ordinary Level have to move out of that Region to look for science series schools outside the Region. I remember in 2006 I went up to the North and today, practicals are going on in the Northern part of the country. I have been to Bali-Kumbat and so many other areas. I think this exercise is very encouraging to both the parents and the students who are not only seeing education in terms of academic performances; they are also looking at education as a developmental factor of our little areas where we come from. It develops the mind, the environment and more.
