BECE 2026: Candidates to Select SHS After Examination Results Are Released
- The Basic Education Certificate Examination candidates will now choose senior high schools after their results are out
- The Education Minister announced a one-week window for school selections post-results
- This new policy aims to boost fairness and efficiency in school admissions
The government has announced that candidates of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will now select their preferred senior high schools only after their results are released.
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, announced the new policy on April 1, stating that it is part of broader efforts to reform the Computerised School Selection and Placement System.
Source: Facebook
Under the Computerised School Selection and Placement System, students were required to select their Senior High Schools before sitting for the BECE.
Iddrisu explained that the new approach will introduce a mandatory one-week window following the release of results, during which candidates can finalise their school selections based on their actual aggregates.
"In the past, students selected schools without knowing their aggregate, and that affected the placement system."
"This time, we will provide a mandatory period of one week after results are declared for students to confirm their choices based on their performance."
He expressed confidence that the revised timeline will enhance fairness, reduce the challenges associated with the placement system, and improve overall efficiency in the admission process into Senior High Schools.
Corruption concerns in school placement
Last year, the Ministry of Education launched investigations into allegations of bribery in the ongoing Senior High School placement process.
The allegations came from the Member of Parliament for Akrofuom, Joseph Azumah.
He recounted an incident where one of his neighbours was allegedly charged GH¢30,000 to secure a child’s placement at a preferred SHS.
“Someone who knew I was an MP approached me at Tema Community 16, where I live, and asked me to help his or her child secure placement at a certain school. However, within a week, the person returned with evidence showing that they had paid GH¢30,000 to secure the placement. Why are we doing this to ourselves?” the MP rhetorically asked.
Responding to this, the Education Ministry convened a meeting with National Security to conduct a thorough and urgent investigation into the allegations.
The ministry urged Azumah and any other persons with credible information or evidence to assist the investigations.
There has been no major update on the probe into the Computerised School Selection and Placement System process since.
Mother cries over daughter's school placement
In 2025, YEN.com.gh reported that a Ghanaian mother was overcome with emotion as she disclosed that her daughter was allegedly assigned to a senior high school located on a farm near Kasoa, contrary to her expectations.
In a trending social media video, she lamented that the school's distance from their Kwahu home made logistics and finances difficult to manage.
Despite her pleas for a change in school placement, authorities in charge of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System firmly told her the decision could not be changed.
Source: YEN.com.gh
