On Thursday, September 3, CSSPS Secretariat Coordinator Sherif Sulemana revealed that approximately 565,000 candidates who sat for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) have qualified for placement into Senior High Schools and Technical Schools nationwide.
How the Numbers Break Down
According to the Ghana Education Service’s analysis, the qualification hinges on students not failing in either English Language or Mathematics. "Those people have not failed in either English or Mathematics. So, you are disqualified from placement if you have failed in either English or Mathematics," Mr Sulemana explained on JoyFM’s Super Morning Show.
Of the 620,000 candidates who appeared for the exams, roughly 55,000 did not meet the placement criteria. The remaining 565,000 are expected to be allocated to schools across the country.
Performance Across Core Subjects
Mr Sulemana highlighted the varying performance levels among candidates. "You find out somebody got one, somebody got ten over 100, somebody got, say, twelve, twenty over 100, and that qualifies as a failure," he said. Only about 17 per cent of candidates scored aggregates between 6 and 18, equating to around 107,000 students. Approximately 35 per cent, or 252,000 students, achieved aggregates ranging from 6 to 24.
Next Steps for Placement
With the figures confirmed, education authorities are preparing to allocate the qualified candidates to Senior High Schools and Senior High Technical Schools. The process will involve matching student scores to school capacities and regional distribution.
Stakeholders and parents are advised to stay tuned for official placement lists and to prepare for the transition to senior secondary education.
