The 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) begins today, Monday, May 4, with over 620,000 candidates across Ghana sitting for the exams.
The exams conducted by the West African Examinations Council will run until May 11, with 620,141 candidates from 20,395 schools set to participate.
The exam officials have disclosed that they have tightened measures to curb malpractice, taking a firm stance against examination malpractice.
According to the exam’s official, any candidate found in possession of prohibited materials, including mobile phones, will not be tolerated.
An official stated, “Candidates found engaging in any form of malpractice will face severe sanctions”.
Of the 620,000 candidates, 304,349 are boys, and 315,792 are girls, with the 2026 BECE candidate increasing by 16,813 candidates, or 2.7%, compared to the 2025 BECE 603,328 candidates.
In related news, the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, has disclosed that the 2026 BECE candidates will select two Category A Senior High Schools.
According to the GES Director-General, the 2026 BECE candidates’ school selection process requires candidates to choose two Category A Senior High Schools, one boarding and one day within their locality.
Professor Ernest Kofi Davis disclosed that the move forms part of measures to improve the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
He disclosed that candidates will now select a total of eight schools.
Also, the reforms introduce greater flexibility in the selection of Category B and Category C schools.
Candidates will now have room to make choices that reflect their preferences and realistic placement prospects.
Professor Ernest Kofi Davis further disclosed that the reform was informed by challenges observed in previous years, including congestion in Category A schools.
In related news, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that BECE candidates will now select their preferred Senior High schools (SHS) after results are released.
According to the Education Minister, the move is aimed at helping students make more informed choices based on their actual performance.
He revealed that candidates will be given a one-week window after the release of results to select schools.
Speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Haruna Iddrisu stated, “In the past, students selected schools without knowing their aggregate, and that affected the placement system.
This time, we will provide a mandatory period of one week after results are declared for students to confirm their choices based on their performance”.