The head of the Public Affairs Unit of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), John Kapi, has revealed that the current format of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Ghana is likely to change due to the evolving needs and demands of the country.
Speaking about WAEC’s preparedness for the ongoing BECE, Speaking to the media, he mentioned that all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure the integrity of the exam.
Regarding the ongoing debate about changes to the exam’s format, Mr. Kapi suggested that there is a possibility of modifications, depending on Ghana’s growing population and workforce requirements.
“There is always a possibility of changing the format depending on the population and the manpower needs of the country and so it is possible that the exam’s format can change.”
Mr. Kapi further appealed to all stakeholders involved in the exam, including candidates, parents, guardians, teachers, and supervisors, to refrain from any form of malpractice.
“We have appealed to all the candidates, parents, guardians, teachers, and supervisors, and what we are saying is that we don’t expect the candidates to come to the exam hall with any foreign material and they should do independent work and should not solicit support from anybody within or outside the examination hall. No smart watches or any form of electronic gadget should be brought to the exam hall.”
Also, it is reported that the proposed Free Senior High School, (SHS) bill, which is yet to be presented to parliament, aims to eliminate the BECE as a requirement for entering secondary school. The bill seeks to restructure the education system by separating junior high school (JHS) from basic school and integrating it into a six-year secondary education framework.
The minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, explained that upon the bill’s passage, the SHS certification will become the first formal academic qualification in the country, replacing the current BECE certification.
The minister emphasized that the restructuring would ensure a continuous six-year secondary education, with new schools co-locating JHS and SHS students on the same campuses. Existing schools with both JHS and SHS students will continue this practice.
