By The Daily Newsflash
ACCRA, Ghana – The Ghana National Council of Private Schools [GNACOPS] has called on the Ministry of Education to establish an independent review committee to assess the marking of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination [BECE].
According to GNACOPS, candidates from private schools were “unfairly marked” compared to their counterparts in public schools.
GNACOPS Cites “Credible Evidence”
Speaking in a television interview with GTV on Tuesday, August 4, GNACOPS Executive Director Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah said the council has gathered “credible evidence” showing that grades awarded to many private school candidates do not reflect their academic performance or continuous assessment records.
“We are the people that submitted the continuous assessment records to the ministry through Ghana Education Service on these learners, and so, when we come out to say that the exam report or results that have been issued by WAEC is not a clear reflection of the academic performance of these learners, we know exactly what we are saying,” he said.
“And so, we have evidence here, data to prove to the point that, yes indeed, the results of the grades that have been issued to the learners, for the performance of it, do not commensurate or do not reflect their academic performance over the years.”
Mr. Gyetuah disclosed that more than 14,000 private schools have expressed concern following a nationwide call for feedback. A petition will be presented to the Minister of Education, alongside affected students and parents.
Key Demands
GNACOPS’ primary request is for the Ministry to set up an independent review committee to reassess WAEC’s work and determine whether the results accurately reflect candidates’ performance.
The council is also calling on WAEC to release candidates’ examination scripts for independent scrutiny to ensure transparency and accountability.
“As I’m talking to you now, I can confirm that since last Saturday, when we made the clarion call to our members, over 14,000 schools have shown concern in this issue, which are private schools. And so, a petition has been sent down,” Mr. Gyetuah stated.
“Over the years, WAEC has been a master and a servant to itself. And it is now time we ask for accountability from them for the work that they have done.”
He added that GNACOPS has been invited to appear before Parliament’s Education Committee to present its evidence. Member schools have also been directed to provide counselling support to affected students.
Minister’s Response
Responding to the concerns, Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu urged GNACOPS to engage the ministry with credible evidence of any irregularities.
“I am not responsible for the conduct of exams. The West African Examinations Council is,” Mr. Iddrisu said on Ghana Television’s _Breakfast Show_.
“I understand that the private schools are very unhappy. Justifiably, what they should do is to reach out to me with legitimate evidence of any underhandedness that undermined the integrity of the examinations.”
The Minister maintained that, in the absence of evidence of malpractice, the results reflect an examination properly conducted by WAEC.
Source: Graphic Online
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