Bees attack candidates writing BECE at school for the deaf exam center.

Leaked exam papers or last-minute syllabus changes are the usual suspects when it comes to examination disruptions; however, the latest disruption to Ghana’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) came straight from the kingdom of the insects.

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On Thursday, June 12, 2025, a swarm of bees launched an unprecedented assault on students writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at the Wa School for the Deaf center injuring two students and disrupting the exams.

The victims, a male and a female candidate, were rushed to Wa Municipal Hospital for treatment. The female candidate was detained; as a result, she missed the second paper (Career Technology), but the male candidate was treated and discharged in time to write the paper.

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According to the Upper West Regional Controller of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), Mr. Donald Tour, the incident happened shortly after the English-language paper when staff from the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) pruned a tree near the examination center, disturbing a beehive in the process.

Mr. Tuor noted that efforts are underway to seek clemency for the female candidate who missed the paper. Adding that “though the subject is compulsory, it is not a core subject, so she can still be graded.”

He also disclosed that WAEC is investigating multiple cases of examination malpractice in the region, adding that teachers involved in malpractice will be reported to the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service for disciplinary action.