BECE candidates to select 7 schools before the exams – Free SHS Coordinator

This year, candidates taking the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will be required to select seven schools before they sit for the exams, according to the Free Senior High School Secretariat.

The announcement was made at a press briefing in Accra on May 27 by the National Free SHS Coordinator, Benetta Okiti Duah. She explained that the new system is meant to reduce stress for both students and their families during the placement process.

In previous years, candidates made their school selections after the exams. However, this often caused confusion and frustration. Some parents accused teachers of making selections without consulting them, while others complained about poor placement results, with students being sent to schools they had not chosen.

This review of the school placement system by the Ghana Education Service (GES) is part of a broader effort to improve the experience for students and phase out the double track system.

Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, also shared insights into ongoing efforts to involve private schools in the Free SHS programme.

“We have been working very diligently to bring on board private senior high schools to participate in the delivery of the Free Senior High School programme. Meetings have been held, engagements have been done, and we are very certain that the diligence we expect from our side and the eagerness by the private schools, we know the private schools will deliver,” he said.

Officials believe that by requiring school selection before the BECE, it will not only reduce last-minute stress but also allow the placement system to run more smoothly. The GES expects that this change, along with greater participation from private SHSs, will improve access to quality education and make the placement process more transparent and efficient.

The Free SHS Secretariat says more updates will be provided as the school selection phase begins in the lead-up to the 2025 BECE.