The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has revealed plans to replace the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) with an entrance examination for students seeking admission to senior high schools.
In an exclusive interview on GTV’s on August 8, 2024, Dr Adutwum emphasised the increasing importance of completing senior high school. He pointed out that certificate exams will now occur at this level rather than at junior high.
He clarified that the Free Secondary Education bill, which funds quality secondary education for all students, reclassifies junior high school as lower secondary. This change effectively extends Ghana’s secondary education system to six years.
Dr Adutwum also observed that while lower secondary schools can operate independently, they will provide learning opportunities on par with those in senior high schools.
This significant shift aims to better align the assessment process with students’ readiness for advanced education levels.
