As July unfolds, a captivity moment of tension engulfs thousands of General Certificate of Education (GCE) candidates across the nation. This is the month that holds the key to their academic futures, the month when the results of their hard work, dedication, and sleepless nights are finally revealed.
The air in August is heavy, not just with humidity and activities surrounding the holiday period, but with the weight of thousands of candidates’ heartbeats. The anticipation is evident, hanging heavily in the air like never before, candidates await it anxiously, and they call it PDF, the almighty results that bring heartbreaks. August is tense. Some students wait with hope, some with fear. The PDF will come, and with it, joy or heartbreak. Parents watch quietly. Students pretend not to worry, but their hands shake, one click and everything changes.
Pass or fail. Move forward or try again. When the results drop, silence, and then screams, tears, and quiet relief. It is said to be the most stressful results in academics, GCE does not say “sorry” or “good job.” It just tells the truth, as Effa Gideon, a Head teacher at G.S.B Le Verger Mimboman, Yaoundé, says. Some celebrate, some plan their next move. But for now, everyone holds their breath, waiting for that one file to decide their future. “We stress when the exams start and still stress when the results are getting near,” Bokeh Marie, a candidate, calls it an endless stress for them.
Doubts kidnap their minds, fueled by post exam analyses, when they replay exam scenarios in their minds, dwelling on potential errors they have made and missed opportunities, sleep becomes restless, and appetite disappears as the impending judgment day draws nearer. Some wishes to move ahead with their friends and classmates, but it is not always the case, some will forge new paths, while others may retake exams and change their plans. When asked what was Ewane Corine’s greatest wish as concern the results “I wish we could all pass together, it’s hard when friends don’t make it. Studying together makes it harder to see them struggle.
As the month progresses, they brace themselves for the moment of truth, hoping their efforts will be rewarded and their dreams realized. The wait continues, and with each passing day, the tension intensifies. No matter the results that await, it is not always an easy moment for all.
