Private Schools Protest BECE Discrepancies as 620,000 Graduates Begin New SHS Selection Process

The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) have officially launched the school selection process for over 620,000 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) graduates following the release of the 2026 results. Under a new policy aimed at reducing uncompetitive placements in oversubscribed institutions, students are now required to select their second-cycle schools after receiving their results rather than before the exam. This shift allows candidates to align their choices with their actual academic performance. The selection window is brief, with the process scheduled to conclude this Friday, as parents and guardians actively participate in guiding students through the updated Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) guidelines.

However, the results have been met with intense scrutiny from private school stakeholders. The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) and the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) have alleged "serious discrepancies" and "unfair marking" practices targeting their candidates. GNAPS General Secretary Kennedy Donkor and Head of Communications Eredon Gien Joseph have cited administrative failures, such as students receiving grades for subjects they never registered for or sat—including one instance of a candidate receiving a grade in Ewe despite not taking the paper. These associations, representing over 14,000 schools, are demanding an urgent audit and the formation of an independent review committee to investigate the provisional results.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has strongly rejected these claims of bias. WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, emphasized that all candidates, regardless of whether they attend public or private schools, are assessed using the same syllabus and marking standards. While acknowledging that candidates with specific concerns should submit them for individual review, WAEC maintains that the grading process is uniform and transparent. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has also weighed in, urging private school bodies to provide substantial evidence of irregularities to back their claims for a formal investigation.

Under the 2026 CSSPS Placement Guide, candidates must select a total of eight schools in order of preference. The selection is strictly structured: students can choose a maximum of two schools from Category A, up to three from Category B, and the remaining from Category C. The Ministry has emphasized that placement will not be determined solely by aggregate scores but will also factor in available vacancies and the student’s preferred programmes. This structured approach is intended to ensure a more balanced distribution of students across Ghana’s Senior High Schools (SHS) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

As the Friday deadline approaches, the tension between private school associations and the examining body remains high. GNAPS is currently documenting formal complaints from member schools and has indicated that collective legal or administrative action may follow if their concerns are not addressed. The outcome of this dispute and the efficiency of the new selection system will be critical in determining the academic futures of hundreds of thousands of Ghanaian students transitioning to the next stage of their education.