By Nadia Ntiamoah
A total of 619,985 candidates across Ghana have begun the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), marking a critical milestone in the academic journey of final-year Junior High School students seeking progression to senior high schools and technical institutions.
The nationwide examination, which commenced on Monday, May 4, 2026, and is expected to end on May 11, is being conducted under the supervision of the West African Examinations Council.
According to the Council’s Head of Public Affairs, John K. Kapi, the candidates comprise 304,273 males and 315,712 females drawn from 20,784 schools across the country.
The candidates are writing eleven subjects at 2,302 designated examination centres nationwide, with WAEC maintaining that all rules governing the examination remain unchanged.
Authorities have emphasised punctuality, warning that late arrival at examination centres will not be tolerated.
In a bid to preserve the integrity of the examination, WAEC has reiterated strict prohibitions against the use of mobile phones, smartwatches, and any electronic devices within examination halls.
Candidates have also been cautioned against carrying unauthorised materials, while teachers who are not officially assigned to examination duties have been directed to stay away from centres to avoid any form of malpractice.
Regionally, the Ashanti Region recorded the highest number of candidates, with 124,905 students from 3,383 schools writing at 444 centres.
The Greater Accra Region followed closely with 114,243 candidates from 3,295 schools across 443 centres.
Other regions recorded varied figures, including 69,496 candidates in the Central Region, 56,700 in the Eastern Region, and 45,457 in the Western Region.
Further breakdown shows 37,308 candidates in the Northern Region, 30,055 in the Volta Region, and 24,984 in the Bono Region.
The Upper East Region presented 22,449 candidates, while the Bono East Region recorded 20,897 candidates.
The Western North Region had 17,372 candidates, with 14,928 candidates in the Upper West Region.
The Oti Region recorded 12,401 candidates, the Ahafo Region 12,578, the North East Region 10,033, and the Savannah Region the lowest figure of 6,989 candidates.
The BECE remains a key national examination that determines placement into Senior High Schools as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
Final results are calculated based on a combination of Continuous Assessment, which contributes 30 percent, and the external examination, which accounts for the remaining 70 percent.
