Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, has questioned the continued relevance of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), contending that its original purpose has diminished since the introduction of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.
He noted that the BECE’s role within Ghana’s education system has shifted over time, now functioning mainly as a placement tool for senior high schools rather than determining eligibility for progression.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, August 4, Asare explained that prior to the Free SHS policy, the BECE carried broader significance within the educational structure. He recalled that the system was built around a competitive admission process, where only candidates who achieved the required aggregate qualified for secondary education. “BECE in time past, prior to the Free Senior High, it was used for two main reasons.
The first was to determine who goes to secondary school because there was a cut-off point of 36,” he said. “The second was to determine which school one is placed in and other minor reasons for certification. It served as evidence for completing the JHS level.
“But since 2017/2018, when we introduced Free SHS, we have come to agree as a country that the minimum level of education that any Ghanaian should have is secondary. On average, 98 percent of BECE candidates have always qualified for placement, and so BECE relevance now is only for placement.”
Source: Kabah Atawoge
