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The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, has defended the deployment of military and plainclothes security personnel at Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) centres across Kenema District, saying the measure is intended to protect the integrity of the examinations and ensure a calm, orderly environment for candidates.
Speaking exclusively on the matter, Minister Sackey explained that the presence of security officers at examination centres is a routine arrangement used during national assessments to safeguard examination materials, prevent malpractice, and maintain order.
He stressed that the officers deployed are familiar with the education system and understand the need to avoid intimidating pupils. According to him, the security personnel have been instructed to carry out their duties professionally and discreetly so that candidates can sit the exams without fear or distraction.
The minister’s remarks come amid public discussion over the visible security presence at some BECE centres in Kenema, with some residents welcoming the move as a way of boosting confidence in the credibility of the exams. In contrast, others expressed concern that it could unsettle pupils.
Sackey assured parents, pupils, and education stakeholders that the ministry remains committed to creating a safe and fair examination environment. He noted that the deployment is not linked to any specific threat, but is part of standard procedures designed to protect the process.
As the BECE continues across Kenema District, the minister has called for calm and cooperation from all stakeholders, reaffirming that the ministry’s priority is to ensure that every candidate writes the examinations in a secure, peaceful, and non-threatening atmosphere.
