The Edo State Ministry of Education has reportedly cancelled the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Creative and Cultural Arts (CCA) scheduled for Friday, June 14, 2024. This decision follows a viral video showing leaked copies of the examination paper being used to wrap roasted corn, sparking outrage and concern over the integrity of the examination process.
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The Ministry’s decision was communicated through an unsigned message sent to all school heads under the title, URGENT/IMPORTANT INFORMATION. The message read:
“Good evening all. I am directed to inform everyone concerned that Friday 14th June, 2024, tomorrow’s paper, CREATIVE AND CULTURAL ARTS (CCA) has been CANCELLED. We are sorry for any inconveniences this may have caused you.”
It is alleged that the subject was one of the many examination papers that were not leaked but made available to school heads by the Ministry so teachers could coach students on the correct answers as part of hyping the success of the government’s ẸdoBEST program. It was gathered that this practice, in vogue since the outgoing PDP government led by Mr. Godwin Obaseki introduced ẸdoBEST, was calculated to create an aura of high standards in the Edo State education system.
The incident, where CREATIVE AND CULTURAL ARTS (CCA) question papers were used to wrap roasted corn, raised serious questions about the motive of the Ministry. The video, which quickly gained traction on social media, shows roasted corn sellers nonchalantly using the papers, underscoring a significant breach in protocol.
The Edo State Ministry of Education has not yet provided details on when the rescheduled examination will take place or the steps they will take to prevent future leaks. This incident underscores the importance of maintaining strict security measures for examination papers to uphold the integrity of the educational system.
As the situation develops, the education community in Edo State awaits further instructions from the Ministry on how they plan to address this breach and ensure a fair examination process for all students.
