BECE results expected by July 31 – Haruna Iddrisu

Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu has announced that the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results are expected to be released on or before July 31, 2026, clearing the way for the commencement of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

The Minister also unveiled significant reforms to Ghana's school placement system, revealing that candidates will, going forward, select their preferred Senior High Schools (SHSs) only after receiving their BECE results to promote transparency, fairness and merit-based placements.

Speaking during the Government's Accountability Series on Monday, July 20, Mr Iddrisu stressed that the release of BECE results falls exclusively within the mandate of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), adding that he has no intention of interfering with the work of the examination body.

"As I've always indicated as Minister, I don't interfere with the work of assessment institutions of WAEC. It is within their domain," he stated.

However, the Minister disclosed that he had received information from the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) indicating that the examination results could be published before the end of the month.

"I'm reliably informed by the Director-General of GES that on or before 31st July, the BECE results may be released," he added.

The release of the results will enable the CSSPS placement process to begin for thousands of students seeking admission into Senior High Schools and Senior High Technical Schools across the country.

One of the most significant announcements made by the Education Minister was the planned overhaul of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

Under the proposed reforms, students will no longer select their preferred schools before writing the BECE.

Instead, candidates and their parents will first receive the examination results before choosing schools that match their academic performance.

According to Mr Iddrisu, the new approach will allow students to make more realistic and informed choices while reducing unnecessary pressure during the placement process.

"Parents take note, under the weight of the aggregate of your son or daughter, you would know whether your daughter or son belongs," he explained.

The Minister said the reforms are intended to create a more open and transparent admission process based on merit rather than influence.

Mr Iddrisu disclosed that the government has established a committee to comprehensively review the CSSPS and identify weaknesses within the current placement model.

The committee has been tasked with assessing whether the existing system adequately rewards academic merit or whether it has become vulnerable to favouritism and political interference.

"We have had to set up a review committee of the placement system itself and to subject it to questions. Does it respect merit? And is it done on the basis of favouritism? And politicians taking advantage of it to reward protocol and not merit?" he stated.

He assured parents and students that the reforms would strengthen public confidence in the placement process by ensuring admissions are based strictly on academic performance.

"We intend to run an open, transparent placement system," the Minister emphasised.

The Education Minister admitted that Ghana's education sector continues to face significant infrastructure deficits, making it difficult to accommodate the growing number of students entering Senior High Schools each year.

He acknowledged that limited classroom space, dormitories and teaching facilities remain major obstacles to improving the placement system.

"Justifiably so, in truth, we have not had the resources to respond head-on to this challenge. In order to resolve it, we need adequate resources to expand infrastructure by way of classroom blocks and then lecture theatres," he said.

According to the Minister, the government is relying on initiatives such as the Sustainable Development for Improved Access to Tertiary Education and Jobs (STAR-J) Project to expand educational infrastructure nationwide.

While acknowledging public frustration over the annual placement process, Mr Iddrisu appealed to parents to give the government additional time to implement the planned reforms.

He expressed confidence that the ongoing review and infrastructure expansion would significantly improve the school placement system in the coming years.

"You may have to give me another year, then I'll be better off in resolving the school placement issues," he said.

The anticipated release of the 2026 BECE results by July 31 is expected to mark the beginning of a new era for Ghana's school placement process as the government moves to introduce a more transparent, merit-based and student-centred CSSPS system.