Today, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) officially published the provisional outcomes of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), bringing an end to months of anxious waiting for hundreds of thousands of students.

The results, which pertain to School Candidates across Ghana, have been made accessible both online and via schools nationwide. A total of 620,243 candidates participated in the examination. The news, first broken by Radio Gold, has quickly become a trending topic.

In its release, WAEC also confirmed that disciplinary actions have been taken against numerous candidates implicated in examination malpractice. While some results have been outright cancelled, others have been withheld as investigations proceed.

Specifically, inquiries involving 2,722 candidates from 229 schools are ongoing and are expected to continue until August 31, 2026. During this period, affected candidates must wait for a final ruling, after which their withheld results will either be released or nullified.

WAEC reiterated that all 620,243 candidates came from Junior High Schools across the country, and their performance is now accessible through the official WAEC results checker portal. Schools are also expected to begin distributing result slips to students starting tomorrow.

According to the Council, the malpractice cases uncovered ranged from cheating to other examination irregularities. As a result, thousands of students have faced penalties, with some results cancelled entirely and others temporarily suspended pending further review.

The Council has strongly cautioned both students and schools against future malpractice, warning that such actions compromise the integrity of the BECE and the broader educational system. It affirmed that strict sanctions will continue to serve as a deterrent.

With the results now public, attention is turning to the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS). Successful candidates are expected to choose their preferred Senior High Schools, Senior High Technical Schools, and TVET institutions. Following their selections, the CSSPS portal will open for placement verification, though an official date from the Ministry of Education is still awaited.

Radio Gold’s coverage highlights scenes of celebration among parents and students, many of whom have already checked their results online. While some are rejoicing over strong performances, others are dealing with disappointment.

Teachers and school heads have begun distributing results and counseling students to stay composed and prepare for the next phase. They emphasized that the BECE is merely the first milestone in a longer academic journey.

Finally, WAEC extended congratulations to all successful candidates advancing to SHS, while encouraging those who did not pass to persevere and attempt the examination again. The Council noted that this year’s provisional results reflect an overall improvement in performance nationwide.