The release of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results has renewed calls for reforms to Ghana’s examination system, despite a reduction in the number of candidates whose results have been cancelled or withheld over suspected malpractice.
Many parents have expressed disappointment about their wards’ performance, while the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says its intensified measures against examination malpractice contributed to the latest outcome.
Education policy analysts, however, believe the discussion should go beyond suppressing malpractice and include wider changes to the way students are assessed.
A comparison with previous years presents a mixed picture. In 2024, WAEC cancelled the subject results of 380 candidates, including 377 school candidates and three private candidates. The entire results of 42 candidates, made up of 41 school candidates and one private candidate, were also cancelled. Results belonging to 36 candidates were withheld while investigations continued.
The number of reported cases rose in 2025. Of the 603,328 candidates who sat the BECE that year, WAEC cancelled 895 subjects or entire results and withheld the results of 1,333 candidates over suspected malpractice. The results of candidates from 119 schools were subsequently cancelled.
This year, 620,243 candidates sat the examination. WAEC has cancelled the subject results of 496 candidates and the complete results of 105 candidates.
It has also withheld the subject results of 119 candidates and the entire results of 48 candidates. In addition, the subject results of 2,722 candidates from 229 schools remain withheld pending the conclusion of investigations.
WAEC says measures are having an effect
Speaking to TV3, WAEC Head of Public Affairs John Kapi said the lower figures reflected the impact of work carried out by the council.
“Generally, we are impressed with our performance because of a number of parameters that we look at when we are dealing with results. And I believe that I’m looking at the amount of work we have put in and being able to churn out the results in this manner.
We have recorded some irregularities, some examination practices. But thankfully, we haven’t had any high numbers, you know, in relation to last year’s numbers.”
Mr Kapi said investigations into some withheld results were still under way. He explained that team leaders and chief examiners examine scripts to establish whether there is evidence of collusion or copying.
“Usually what happens is that when we have cases of this nature, we would ask the team leaders, the chief examiners, to take a look at the nature of the offences. They look generally at the scripts, and they come out with clear-cut, I mean, clear evidence of collusion.
That is, if there’s any copying, if there’s any. And then this is presented to us. And so, we present that evidence to the candidates and ask them to explain to us exactly what happened in the course of the examination.”
He advised candidates to use approved WAEC websites to check the status of their results.
“Those whose results have been withheld, or those whose have been cancelled, they can go to the WAEC site, and then they’ll be able to tell the status of their results. And we are working to ensure that, by the end of August, every single person who should receive results for the BEC 2026 will certainly receive them.”
Call for competency-based assessment
Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, said malpractice remained a serious concern despite the decline in cancellations from the previous year.
“There are several candidates involved in cancellations, reducing from about 900 in 2025 to about 600 in 2026. So that reflects the downward trend, which suggests that the malpractice may be low. But we are still high, and I want us to get to a point where we are getting perhaps single-digit candidates involved in cancellations.”
Mr Asare called on the government to pursue reforms that place greater emphasis on competency-based assessment while protecting the credibility of the examination system, particularly its grading structure.
“I am of the view that the Criteria Reference Assessment Model should be adopted. I’ve always had issues with the normal reference test, because it doesn’t give us a true picture. I think that nothing stops us from, you know, adopting that one, because we have been using it at the secondary school and also at the tertiary level.”
He also proposed that the Ghana Education Service ensure the 30% protocol allocation for public schools to access good schools is maintained. In addition, he suggested that candidates should sit only the core subjects, supported by a solid-based cumulative assessment as a foundation.
The next stage will be the Computerised School Selection and Placement System. The Ghana Education Service is expected to begin placing qualified candidates in senior high schools across the country in the coming weeks, marking the start of the next phase of their education.
