Alexander Dorbaareh, and his four colleague inmates at the Wa Central Prisons, are among candidates in the Upper West Region sitting for the maiden edition of the private candidates Basic Education Certificate Examination here.
Mr. Dorbaareh, who is serving a 10-year jail term, told The Ghanaian Times that he decided to take part in the examinations in order to further his education after serving his term in prison.
He said after his elementary education in 1984, he could not continue further because he failed in a number of subjects, including Mathematics and English, and as a result he was not engaged in any meaningful vocation until his incarceration.
The convict, who was very optimistic about the examinations, expressed his appreciation to the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the Ghana Education service (GES) for the initiative, describing it as an opportunity for those of them who wish to further their studies to take advantage of the programme.
He said he was not in any way handicapped by his condition, as all five of them had been well prepared by the Prisons authorities for the examination, stressing that “the fact that we are prisoners does not mean we cannot make it, I have put in my best to ensure that when I am released I can live a meaningful life”.
Mr. Dorbaareh said people must begin to disabuse their minds about the fact that any person convicted and imprisoned was a social misfit and rather the prison authorities should institute correctional measures at the country’s prisons.
According to him there were lots of inmates who were ready to take part in activities that would help transform their lives when they are released but require a lot of support from both the government and the public.
Meanwhile a total of 130 candidates made up of 61 and 69 males and females respectively from across all the 11 districts of the region are taking part in the examination which would last for a week.
According to Mr. Peter C. Bayor, Regional Supervisor at the Wa School for the Deaf Examination Centre, a total of 135 candidates were expected to take part in the exams but only 130 were present as at the close of the first session of the English Language paper.
He said some of the candidates were billed to re-write all the 10 papers, while others too would be taking part in only a couple of papers since they obtained good grades in their earlier examination.
Some of the candidates, who spoke to The Ghanaian Times, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examination and expressed the hope that certain things would be put in place to improve on it next year.
They said it was challenging studying on their own to take part in an examination such as this, and therefore, appealed for well structured classes to be organised for private candidates as well.
The candidates also complained about the late release of the examination time table by the WAEC, adding that it made it difficult for preparation for the examination.
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