BECE 2025: Ghanaian Educationist Laments Grading System, Calls for Changes
- A Ghanaian educationist has reacted to concerns raised by some parents regarding the BECE results
- In a post, she shed light on what goes on behind the grading system and how the final grades are arrived at
- The Ghana Education Service has meanwhile opened up on when the school placement will begin for successful students
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An educationist has expressed concerns regarding the grading system used to evaluate students who sat for this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
In a lengthy post on Facebook on August 26, Stellastina Aduakye Appiah expressed discontent with the grading system, opining that the Stanine grading system puts candidates at a disadvantage.
Source: Facebook
"As an educationist, I watch with deep concern each year when BECE results are released. Too many bright children are left disheartened—not because they lacked effort, but because of a grading system that refuses to reward them fairly. The stanine model, used since the early 1990s, ranks students against each other instead of measuring what they truly know. The formula is simply harsh: The stanine (standard nine) system doesn’t grade you based on what you know, but rather on how you performed compared to others."
She then opined that the only reason why the Stanine system is still being used as the standard to grade students is that it offers the administration convenience in student placement.
"No parent invests so much only for their child’s hard-earned achievement to be redistributed in the name of easy placement. The truth is painful: the stanine system survives because it makes posting to senior high schools easier. But should the convenience of administrators outweigh the confidence of an entire generation? Education is supposed to uplift children, not reduce them to statistics in a quota.
The irony is that in our classrooms today, teachers are already using a criterion-referenced model through School Based Assessment (SBA). This system measures children against clear learning standards, what they can do, what they know, and how they apply it. It is fair, transparent, and motivating."
Source: Facebook
Stellastina Aduakye Appiah then indicated that the time has come for the stanine system used in grading students who write the BECE to be changed.
"Why should the external exam, the most decisive moment in a child’s basic education, still cling to an outdated, unfair model? We must demand a shift. If we truly value our children’s potential, it is time to move BECE to change the system. Every child should be graded on their own merit, not forced to share their success with quotas"
At the time of writing the report, the post had raked in over 200 likes.
Reactions to the Stanine grading system
Social media users who took to the comments section of the post commended the educationist for sharing her views on the issue.
Candieran Jay commented:
“Thank you for this piece Stellastina. It is very informative and educative. And I really did not know about the stanine until today. And yes, it's true that a lot of parents are gravitating towards the International Programs. Keep up the good work.”
Amina Omar stated:
“This is unfortunate, an outmoded grading system that favours schools that cheat. Most of our private & public schools no longer value integrity so our children are taught to cheat at the age where they are struggling to choose right from wrong. WAEC is outmoded; we need other exam bodies to do the job.”
WAEC releases 2025 BECE results
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that WAEC on August 23 announced that the provisional results for the BECE had been made public.
Out of this number, the entire results of 177 candidates were cancelled.
The subject results of 718 candidates were cancelled, and the entire results of 93 candidates were withheld.
Source: YEN.com.gh
