Ghana BECE exam faces grading reform calls, audit demand and bribery crackdown

Teacher and parent Ayoo Aluman Luke urged a shift from norm‑referenced to criterion‑referenced grading for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), arguing that the current system does not reflect the competency‑based Common Core Programme.

The Ghana National Association of Private Schools demanded a forensic audit of this year’s BECE results, calling for the release of raw examination scores to ensure transparency and address alleged discrepancies.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu appealed to the public to report any money‑for‑placement or teacher‑recruitment bribes to the police, describing such practices as criminal offences that must be prosecuted.

EduWatch director Kofi Asare disclosed that some candidates hide cash inside answer booklets to influence examiners, a practice uncovered after the West African Examinations Council cancelled 601 BECE results, withheld 167, and opened investigations into 2,722 alleged malpractice cases.