.jpg)
Over 620,000 students sit for BECE today.
More than 620,000 candidates across Ghana are sitting for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which began on Monday, May 4, under heightened security and stricter anti-malpractice measures.
The nationwide examination, organized by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), is expected to run until May 11. A total of 620,141 candidates from 20,395 schools are participating, making it one of the largest examination exercises in the country’s educational calendar.
WAEC has made its position on examination malpractice clear, issuing strong warnings to candidates to strictly comply with all regulations.
According to the council, any candidate found engaging in malpractice will face severe consequences. This includes the possession of unauthorized materials such as mobile phones, which remain strictly prohibited in examination centers.
The council further emphasized that misconduct toward supervisors and invigilators will not be tolerated. Actions such as disruption, intimidation, or assault could result in serious disciplinary and legal consequences, reinforcing the need for candidates to maintain discipline throughout the examination period.
In a related development, the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ernest Kofi Davis, disclosed that officials previously implicated in examination malpractice have been barred from participating in this year’s exercise. This decision is part of broader efforts to ensure credibility and fairness in the conduct of the exams.
The strengthened measures reflect a renewed commitment by educational authorities to safeguard the integrity of the BECE. As a critical national examination, the BECE plays a central role in determining students’ placement into senior high schools, making transparency and fairness essential to maintaining public confidence in the system.
.jpg)
