The Ministry of Education has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the school selection process for candidates sitting the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), aimed at enhancing fairness, transparency, and accessibility in the placement of junior high school graduates into senior high schools and technical institutions.

At a press briefing in Accra, officials from the Ministry, alongside representatives from the Ghana Education Service (GES), detailed the new guidelines, which take effect immediately for the current cohort of BECE candidates. The revised framework introduces significant changes in the number and categorization of schools students can select, with a strong emphasis on equity and merit-based placement.

Under the new system, candidates will now be required to select schools across five clearly defined categories: Category A (Top-tier schools), Category B (Mid-tier), Category C (Community Day and other standard schools), Category D (Technical and Vocational institutions), and Category E (Special Education institutions). Each candidate must choose at least one school from Category C to promote regional balance and inclusivity.

Additionally, the Ministry is introducing an automated verification portal where candidates and their guardians can cross-check and confirm their school choices before final submission. The move is expected to reduce placement errors and enhance confidence in the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

Deputy Minister for Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement: “This new framework is the result of extensive consultations with parents, teachers, and education policy experts. Our goal is to ensure that every child has a fair shot at continuing their education in an institution that matches their academic ability and interest.”

The Ministry has also launched a national sensitization campaign across all 16 regions to educate students, parents, and school administrators on the changes and how to properly navigate the updated process.

The 2025 BECE is scheduled for July, and over 600,000 candidates are expected to participate nationwide. The Ministry has assured the public that measures are in place to ensure a smooth and efficient implementation of the new selection system