Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced plans to stop students who have not reached JHS Form 3 from registering for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The move, he said, is part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening Ghana’s basic education system and improving student performance nationwide.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, April 2, 2026, the minister described the practice of allowing underqualified candidates to sit for the BECE as a violation of established rules.
According to him, both the Ghana Education Service and the West African Examinations Council clearly prohibit students below JHS 3 from taking the examination.
“We have made a determination that students who register for BECE when they are not yet in JHS 3 — that is unacceptable per GES and WAEC guidelines,” he stated.
Haruna Iddrisu attributed declining BECE performance in part to the growing trend of students attempting the exam before they are academically ready.
He explained that some candidates, including those in primary school or lower JHS levels, are being pushed to sit the exams prematurely, resulting in poor outcomes.
“That is why we are seeing poor results — the student is not prepared but is forced to write BECE even when they are in Primary Six or JHS 1 or 2,” he noted.
The minister emphasized that the practice will no longer be tolerated under the new policy direction.
He stressed that only students who have completed the required academic progression will be eligible to register and sit for the BECE moving forward.
The policy is expected to tighten compliance within the education system and ensure that candidates sit the examination at the appropriate stage of their academic development.