More than 620,000 candidates across Ghana are sitting for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which begins today, Monday, May 4, with authorities introducing stricter measures to curb examination malpractice.
The nationwide examination, administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), will run until May 11. A total of 620,141 candidates from 20,395 schools are expected to participate in this year’s exercise.
WAEC has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, warning candidates to strictly comply with all examination regulations throughout the period. The council stressed that any candidate found engaging in cheating or possessing prohibited materials — including mobile phones — will face severe sanctions.
“Candidates found engaging in any form of malpractice will face severe consequences,” a WAEC official cautioned, underscoring the council’s commitment to maintaining the credibility of the exams.
In addition to malpractice, the council warned against any form of misconduct toward supervisors and invigilators. It noted that acts such as assault, intimidation, or disruption of the examination process could attract serious disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ernest Kofi Davis, disclosed that officials linked to previous malpractice cases have been excluded from this year’s examination process.
“All supervisors and invigilators under investigation for their alleged involvement in last year’s BECE have been barred from participating,” he stated.
The tightened measures form part of broader efforts by education authorities to safeguard the integrity of the BECE, a critical national examination that determines students’ placement into senior high schools across the country.
By: Janice Opoku-Agyemang
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