Concerns are mounting over the ability of Ghana’s Free SHS/TVET programme to absorb all students expected to qualify from the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), as pressure on existing school infrastructure continues to grow.

A new policy brief released by Africa Education Watch projects that out of the nearly 620,000 candidates who sat for this year’s BECE, about 607,000 could qualify for placement into senior high and technical/vocational institutions.

However, the group warns that current school capacity may be insufficient to accommodate all successful candidates, potentially leaving an estimated 72,000 students without placement if urgent corrective measures are not implemented.

The report identifies a declining transition rate as one of the major warning signs. According to the organisation, transition efficiency has dropped from 92 per cent in 2024 to 82 per cent in 2025, increasing fears of mounting congestion within the placement system.

It cautions that “declining transition efficiency… could generate an effective placement deficit of approximately 72,000 qualified candidates if immediate policy interventions are not undertaken.”

Eduwatch attributes the emerging challenge to several structural issues, including reduced enrolment space following the gradual phase-out of the Double Track system in some schools, uneven distribution of vacancies across regions, and disparities between student preferences and available placements.

The organisation also noted that ongoing efforts to integrate private senior high schools into the Free SHS programme have so far yielded limited results, failing to significantly reduce pressure on public institutions.

According to the policy brief, the situation could expose deep weaknesses within Ghana’s secondary education system during the 2026 admissions cycle if authorities fail to act swiftly.

To avert the looming crisis, Eduwatch is urging the government to fast-track the expansion of boarding infrastructure, complete delayed school projects, and improve the efficiency of the placement process before placements begin in August.

It further called for stronger collaboration with private schools to create additional spaces for students, warning that inaction could lead to what it describes as the worst transition bottleneck in the history of Ghana’s secondary education system.

Earlier this month, EduWatch reiterated calls for a restructuring of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), describing the current one as “torture”.

Taking to his official Facebook page on Thursday, May 7, the Executive Secretary of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, slammed the system as archaic, questioning the logic behind examining candidates in 10 subjects over 5 days to determine their school placements, proposing that the number of examinable subjects be reduced to four core areas.

“Piling 10 subjects over a 5-day high-stakes BECE just for sch placement is torture on learners. Reduce to 4 subjects: Math, English, Science & General Paper” parts of his statement read.

He went on to recommend the adoption of aptitude tests and content assessments as alternatives to the traditional means used over the years.

“ Others even use an aptitude test plus a content assessment. This is 2026, not 1996,” he added.

According to him, the arrangement is outdated and does not reflect modern assessment systems used in other countries, where aptitude tests and continuous assessment are incorporated into placement processes.

His comments come amid the ongoing 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination, during which more than 10 students and invigilators have reportedly been arrested over examination malpractice.

The nationwide examination, organised by the West African Examinations Council, is expected to run until May 11, with 620,141 candidates from 20,395 schools participating.

Other stakeholders remarks on BECE

Aside from Africa Education Watch, several individuals, institutions, and other stakeholders have also called for an overhaul of the BECE system. A lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, has been particularly vocal on the issue over the years.

During an interview yesterday, he reiterated his call for a transition away from what he described as a “cruel” system towards one that offers flexibility and gives students ample time to rest and engage in group discussions after each paper. He further suggested extending the examination period from five to ten days, with one paper written per day.

He referred to the examination schedule of University students in Legon, where students are given about three weeks to write about five to seven papers.

Considering the age of the BECE candidates, Dr Otchere suggested that such loads on the 13-15-year-old students are overwhelming and tiring, which tends to negatively affect the performance of the students.