School for Life has voiced alarm over the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) grading and school placement procedures, arguing that the existing system could marginalise learners from deprived communities.
The organisation pointed out that disparities in access to qualified teachers, infrastructure and learning materials mean that students in poorer schools do not compete on equal footing with those in better‑equipped institutions.
It criticised the current ranking‑based grading model, which evaluates candidates against their peers rather than against fixed performance standards, and urged a shift to a criterion‑referenced system similar to that used for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
School for Life also highlighted that some candidates with single‑digit aggregates were unable to secure their preferred schools, while others were placed in schools far from their communities, including day schools. The NGO called for greater transparency on how grades, raw scores, school choices and available vacancies determine placement outcomes.
More than 54,985 candidates were not automatically placed under the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS). While the ministry has assured that these students will have access to self‑placement, the organisation urged the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service to implement the process transparently and without delay, especially for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The group also requested a review of the categorisation of Senior High Schools, noting that intense competition for limited spaces in Category A schools has widened perceptions of inequality within the system.
“An equitable education system is not one that merely identifies the highest performers. It is one that creates the conditions for every child to learn, thrive, and realise their full potential,” School for Life said.
Stakeholders are now watching for the ministry’s response and any potential policy adjustments that could address these equity concerns.
