GTEC directs universities, colleges to stop mandatory entrance tests

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed all tertiary institutions to discontinue the practice of making entrance examinations a compulsory requirement for admission, insisting that admissions must be based on the nationally approved minimum entry requirements, with West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results serving as the primary qualification.

The Commission said some institutions have introduced entrance examinations as mandatory preconditions for admission, a move it believes undermines Ghana's national admissions framework and restricts equitable access to higher education.

In a statement issued under its regulatory mandate established by the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), GTEC reminded universities and other tertiary institutions that it is responsible for developing and implementing national policies governing admission requirements.

According to the Commission, all admissions into accredited tertiary institutions must comply with the approved national admission framework to ensure consistency, fairness and transparency.

GTEC emphasised that the WASSCE remains the principal qualification for admission into tertiary institutions in Ghana.

While acknowledging that entrance examinations may be useful in certain situations, the Commission clarified that such assessments should only complement the approved admission criteria rather than replace them.

According to GTEC:

Entrance examinations shall only be used as an additional component to the prescribed requirements, based on competitiveness and not as a prerequisite that overrides the WASSCE-based minimum entry requirements."

The Commission stressed that no institution should use entrance examinations to deny otherwise qualified applicants admission.

GTEC has instructed all heads of tertiary institutions that have introduced—or intend to introduce—mandatory entrance examinations as a condition for admission to immediately withdraw such admission notices.

The Commission directed affected institutions to revise their admission procedures and ensure full compliance with the approved national regulatory framework.

The directive is expected to bring admission processes across Ghana's tertiary education sector into conformity with existing national policies.

According to GTEC, strict adherence to the national admission guidelines is essential to promoting:

• Fairness in admissions.
• Transparency in student selection.
• Equal educational opportunities.
• Consistency across tertiary institutions.

The Commission noted that the approved admission framework is intended to ensure that qualified students are assessed using nationally recognised academic standards rather than institution-specific admission requirements.

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission reiterated that, under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), it has the statutory responsibility to regulate admission policies and maintain quality standards within Ghana's tertiary education system.

It urged all tertiary institutions to comply fully with the directive to preserve the integrity of Ghana's higher education admissions process and ensure that prospective students are treated fairly and equitably.

The Commission indicated that admissions should continue to be guided by approved minimum entry requirements, with any additional assessments used only where necessary to address highly competitive programmes and without replacing the central role of WASSCE qualifications.