The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has declared plans to bar students who have not yet reached Junior High School (JHS) Form 3 from registering for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
He explained that this initiative is part of a wider strategy to restructure the nation’s basic education system and enhance academic outcomes.
The Minister stressed that permitting under-qualified candidates to take the exam violates the official protocols established by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Ghana Education Service (GES).
During an appearance on JoyFM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, April 2, he stated, “We have also determined that students who advance prematurely—those not yet in JHS 3 but attempting to write the BECE—is unacceptable under GES and WAEC guidelines.”
Mr. Iddrisu noted that this practice has long contributed to consistently poor BECE results, as many of these candidates lack the necessary preparation for the exam’s demands.
He added, “This explains the poor quality we see in results—because a student who is not ready forces themselves to write the BECE, even when they are still in primary six, JHS 1, or JHS 2.”
It is common for learners to skip grade levels or be pushed to take external exams like the BECE or the West African Senior School Certificate Examination based solely on perceived academic ability.
Describing the practice as indefensible, the Minister affirmed that under the new policy direction, it will no longer be condoned. Only students who have properly completed the required academic progression will be permitted to sit for the exams.
