During a media briefing held in Accra on Monday, Professor Davis outlined the scale of this year's examination. A total of 603,328 candidates from 20,395 participating schools have registered for the BECE for School Candidates (BECE SC), comprising 306,078 females and 297,250 males, representing a 5.99% increase from the 2024 entry figure of 569,236. The BECE for Private Candidates has 1,661 registered candidates (858 males, 803 females), a 19.49% increase from the 2024 figure of 1,390.
Professor Davis confirmed that all essential examination materials, including timetables, have been distributed to schools and to metropolitan and district education offices across the country. The examination schedule requires candidates to take two subjects daily: one session in the morning starting at 09:00 GMT and another in the afternoon starting at 13:00 GMT. The BECE for School Candidates will be conducted at 2,237 examination centres nationwide, while 15 centres, primarily in regional capitals, have been designated for the BECE for Private Candidates.
The BECE, a standardized test administered across West African countries, assesses students’ proficiency in core subjects and determines their eligibility for senior high school placement under Ghana’s free secondary education policy, introduced in 2017. Candidates will be tested in up to 11 subjects, with each taking an average of nine. These include seven common core courses fundamental to the Ghanaian curriculum: English Language, Mathematics, Science, Ghanaian Language (e.g., Akan, Ewe, or Ga), Social Studies, Religious and Moral Education, Creative Arts and Design, and Career Technology.
Just like in 2024, School Candidates and some private candidates will take their exams based on the core curriculum. However, other private candidates will be assessed using the old syllabus. WAEC has announced that 2025 will be the final year that private candidates can be examined on the old syllabus.
The Council has made accommodations, such as extended time or alternative formats, to ensure examinations are accessible to candidates with special educational needs. Professor Davis emphasized that adequate provisions have been made to ensure no child is left behind, reassuring heads of schools, parents, and guardians of the inclusive measures in place.
To protect the integrity of the exams, a strong framework is in place. GES and WAEC will jointly supervise the examinations, with support from state law enforcement, including the Ghana Police Service. This collaboration aims to effectively deter and address any potential exam malpractice.
Professor Davis issued a stern warning to both invigilators and supervisors, emphasizing that any individual caught aiding or abetting examination malpractice would face severe legal repercussions. "Invigilators and supervisors who are caught aiding examination malpractice will be severely punished, and this might cost them their jobs because we want good role models," he stated, underscoring the commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards within the examination environment.
He urged parents, teachers, candidates, and communities to work together to reduce or eliminate examination irregularities. The Director-General commended head teachers, teachers, and parents for their diligent efforts in preparing the students for this crucial academic milestone.
Addressing the candidates directly, Professor Davis encouraged them to perform to their best effort and cautioned against relying on illicit means to pass. "Do not rely on 'appor' [a local term for exam cheating]. We don’t want students to excel through cheating. That is not the quality and the kind of students Ghana needs," he asserted.
He expressed confidence in the candidates' capabilities, advising them to focus on their studies and preparation. "I know they can make it if they apply themselves to their books and prepare very well for the exams. I wish all of them the best in their examinations," he concluded.
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