By Joyce Danso
Accra, June 9, GNA – The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has asked the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates to strictly adhere to all examination rules or face the consequences.
“While we wish all the candidates success in their examination, we wish to admonish them to adhere strictly to the rules governing the examination. Any attempt to breach any of these will have dire consequences for the candidates,” it said.
The Council gave the warning in a statement issued on Monday, signed by Mr John K. Kapi, the Head of Public Affairs, WAEC National Office, Accra.
It said all was set for the BECE for school and private candidates to commence from June 11 – 18, 2025.
A total of 603,328 candidates, comprising 297,250 males and 306,078 females from 20,395 participating schools entered for the school examination.
“The number of candidates that registered for this year’s BECE (School Candidates) is 5.99% higher than the 2024 entry figure of 569,236. With regard to the BECE for Private Candidates, a total entry figure of 1,661 candidates was recorded,” the statement said.
This is made up of 858 males and 803 females. This year’s figure is 19.49% higher than the 2024 entry figure of 1,390,” it added.
The BECE for School Candidates will be conducted at 2,237 examination centres across the country, while 15 centres, mainly in the regional capitals, will be used for the BECE for Private candidates.
“Similar to the 2024 examination, School Candidates and some of the private
candidates will be examined on the core curriculum while other private candidates will be examined on the old syllabus,” the statement said.
“We wish to notify all prospective private candidates that this will be the last time private candidates will be examined on the old syllabus.”
The Council had made reasonable adjustments to make its examinations accessible to candidates with special educational needs, it said.
“Heads of school, parents and guardians should rest assured that adequate provision has been made to ensure that no child is left behind as far as the examination is concerned,” the statement said.
“The Council wishes to remind all stakeholders of the revised Rules and Regulations for dealing with cases of irregularity in the Council’s examinations, which have been in operation since 2023.”
WAEC said the revision included new rules on: “Having inscriptions on any part of the body or clothing, posting Live Questions on the Internet, refusal to grant timely access into the school premises, misconduct of examination officials, and multiple registration of candidates in both public and private schools.”
The revised rules are available on the Council’s website and Heads of school, supervisors and invigilators should ensure that candidates adhere to these new rules.
The Council called on all stakeholders to ensure that sanity prevailed at all the examination centres.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe