The Ministry of Education has launched new guidelines for this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) school selection process, introducing a revised format that allows candidates to select seven schools instead of the previous six. The selection window will run from May 27 to June 6.
At a press conference to announce the changes, Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, highlighted a major policy shift involving the integration of private senior high schools into the government’s flagship Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.
“As part of our campaign promise, we have been working diligently to bring on board private senior high schools in the delivery of the Free SHS programme,” Dr. Apaak stated.
“Meetings have been held, engagements have been done, and we are very certain that with the diligence we expect from our side and the eagerness of the private schools to participate, the private schools will deliver in their participation,” he furthered.
He emphasised that the initiative is in line with the ruling party’s manifesto commitment to broaden access to quality secondary education for all Ghanaian students, regardless of the type of school they attend. Dr. Apaak added that this move is also expected to ease pressure on public schools.
“We believe strongly that in fulfilling this manifesto campaign promise, this is going to serve as an artery in helping us bring an end to the double-track system,” he noted, referring to the shift system introduced to manage congestion in public senior high schools.
The Deputy Minister disclosed that the Ministry has received positive responses from private institutions, many of which are ready to meet the standards required under the Free SHS framework.
Dr. Apaak reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring equity in education, saying the revised BECE format and broader access initiatives are designed to remove barriers and offer equal opportunities to all students, whether from public or private basic schools.
He assured stakeholders that the Ministry would closely monitor the implementation of the new measures to ensure its quality and integrity.
