By Sasel Ekumah/Stephandy Kyeraah, GNA
Accra, May 3, GNA – Persistent power outages are interrupting preparations of candidates sitting for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which begins on Monday, May 4, as students in both public and private schools struggle to study effectively at home.
Interviews conducted by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) indicate growing anxiety among candidates, many of whom cite frequent evening blackouts that interrupt revision and significantly reduce productive study hours.
Some students said they had resorted to using torchlights and rechargeable lamps to continue learning at night, although these alternatives are often unreliable and uncomfortable.
Miriam Addae Nyarko, a candidate at a public junior high school (JHS), said the outages made it difficult to maintain concentration and continuity in learning, particularly when power cuts occurred abruptly during study sessions.
She noted that, in some instances, she forgot what she had studied while waiting for electricity to be restored.
Others explained that limited lighting resources at home had to be shared among family members, forcing them to delay or shorten their study periods.
Pamela Dansua, a candidate, told the GNA that studying with torchlight strained the eyes and often caused fatigue, while the heat during outages further affected concentration.
She added that disrupted sleep patterns were impacting punctuality and attentiveness in school.
Kelvin Yahya, also a candidate, said the erratic power supply had negatively affected his readiness for the BECE, expressing concern over the inconvenience.
Some candidates said they had adopted coping strategies such as using candles, rechargeable lamps, or occasionally studying outdoors under natural light.
However, they noted that the outages also hindered their ability to charge electronic devices needed for online learning and research.
Some teachers said the situation was affecting both teaching and learning, as students appeared fatigued and less active in class due to disrupted sleep and excessive heat.
Ms Nicolina Duku, a teacher at Valley School in Tema New Town, said schools had adjusted by shifting intensive revision sessions to daytime hours and aligning teaching schedules with load-shedding periods.
Mr Oman Phillips, a teacher at Sky Educational Institute, noted that although some candidates were placed in supervised study camps, evening preparation had been significantly disrupted, reducing overall study time.
“The school has shifted most revision activities to the daytime to maximise the use of natural light,” he said, noting that continued outages could negatively affect candidates’ performance.
Parents are also feeling the impact, citing increased financial burdens from purchasing fuel, torchlight and batteries to support their children’s studies.
Mrs Faustina Oware, a parent, said she often stayed up late with her child during outages to supervise learning, while another parent, Madam Felicia Kyere, expressed concern over the health implications of studying under poor lighting conditions.
They appealed for a more stable power supply or, at the very least, a reliable load-shedding timetable to enable families to plan effectively.
They indicated that without urgent intervention, the ongoing outages could adversely affect candidates’ performance in the examination.
Despite these challenges, some students expressed confidence in their preparedness, attributing it to consistent study habits over time.
Meanwhile, the Government has assured the public of a stable power supply following the restoration of full electricity generation capacity at the Akosombo Dam after recent setbacks.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe