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The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the results of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) are expected to be released on or before July 31, paving the way for the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) to begin.
Speaking at the Government’s Accountability Series on Monday, July 20, Mr. Iddrisu explained that the release of BECE results remains the sole responsibility of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and emphasized that the Ministry of Education would not interfere 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.
Despite this, the Minister disclosed that information from the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) indicates that the examination results are likely to be released before the end of July.
“I’m reliably informed by the Director-General of GES that on or before 31st July, the BECE results may be released,” he said.
The release of the results is expected to trigger the next phase of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), which assigns successful candidates to senior high schools across the country.
Addressing concerns surrounding school placement, Mr. Iddrisu acknowledged the frustrations experienced by many parents and students due to increasing competition for admission into senior high schools and limited educational infrastructure.
He admitted that successive governments have struggled to provide enough classroom facilities and other infrastructure to meet the growing demand for secondary education.
“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 explained.
The Minister said the government is investing in educational infrastructure through initiatives such as the Sustainable Development for Improved Access to Tertiary Education and Jobs (STAR-J) Project, which aims to improve access to quality education by expanding facilities.
Mr. Iddrisu appealed to parents and students to remain patient as the government implements reforms to improve the school placement process.
“You may have to give me another year, then I’ll be better off in resolving the school placement issues,” he appealed.
He further announced that a committee has been established to review the current CSSPS framework to ensure that school placements are based strictly on merit, fairness and transparency rather than influence or political considerations.
“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 questioned.
According to the Minister, one of the key reforms under consideration is to allow candidates to select their preferred senior high schools after the release of their BECE results instead of before writing the examination.
He explained that this approach would enable students and their parents to make realistic school choices based on the candidates’ actual performance, thereby reducing misplaced expectations and improving the transparency of the placement process.
“We intend to run an open, transparent placement system,” he assured.
Mr. Iddrisu concluded by encouraging parents to support the reforms, stressing that candidates would be better positioned to select schools that match their academic performance once their results are released.
The anticipated release of the 2026 BECE results by July 31 is expected to mark the beginning of another crucial stage in Ghana’s education calendar, with thousands of candidates and their families awaiting the start of the senior high school placement process.
