Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has unveileed plans to prevent learners who attempt BECE examination prior to being promoted to Junior High School (JHS) Form 3, from registering for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

According to the minister, the move forms part of broader efforts to finetune the country’s basic education system and improve learning outcomes.

Speaking on JoyFM's Super Morning Show on Thursday, April 2, 2026, he stressed that allowing such candidates to sit the examination contravenes established guidelines set by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Ghana Education Service (GES).

WAEC to cancel registration of unqualified BECE candidates

"We have also made a determination that, there are students who register for the BECE examination when they are not yet in JHS 3, that is unacceptable per the GES and the WAEC guidelines," he stated.

Iddrisu also stated that the practice has accounted for poor performance of students in BECE results over the years, due to unpreparedness.

"That is why we are seeing a reflection of poor quality because the student is not up to the task but forces himself to write BECE even when he is in primary six or JHS 1 or 2," he noted.

The minister described the practice as unacceptable and emphasised that such practice will not be tolerated under the new policy direction, urging that only qualified students who have exhausted the required academic progression will be allowed to sit the examinations.

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