The figure is a huge leap from 1,000 that sat for the exams in 2016.

Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, a Deputy Minister of Education, who made the figures known, while applauding the previous administration for introducing the system said interest was low because there were no space in senior high schools for those who pass the resit.

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He said another initiative that had increased the number of students writing the BECE had been the decision of government to absorb BECE registration fees.

He observed that the drop out rate in junior high schools had been high because some parents struggled to pay BECE registration for their wards.

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Below are some photos from the forum. Pictures by Emmanuel Asamoah Addai