Questions are mounting over the accuracy of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results, after the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) said several of its member schools have reported grades that fail to reflect candidates’ actual performance.
The Executive Director of the association, Obenfo Nana Kwesi Gyetuah, raised the issue on TV3’s Daily Brief on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, noting that schools nationwide had flagged a mismatch between how well students performed during the examinations and the results they were eventually awarded, especially in core subjects.
In some cases, he said, candidates were graded in subjects they had not registered for or sat, yet scored poorly in the papers they actually wrote.
“We are concerned with a variety of complaints coming from our members across the country. These include results that do not appear to match the standard and capabilities students demonstrated during the examination period,” Obenfo Gyetuah said.
He called on the relevant authorities to investigate the discrepancies and take corrective action where necessary.
“We urge all authorities involved to thoroughly review the marking and scoring processes and correct any mishaps that may have occurred,” he stated.
Low pass rate questioned
The association also questioned the comparatively low pass rate recorded by many private schools this year, arguing that it does not reflect the sector’s longstanding academic performance. According to GNAPS, private schools have consistently excelled in national examinations and have earned recognition for academic excellence, making this year’s outcome particularly surprising.
Obenfo Gyetuah stressed that the association was not suggesting any deliberate attempt to disadvantage private school candidates but warned that unresolved concerns could undermine confidence in the examination system.
He further noted that private schools account for nearly half of Ghana’s educational institutions and play a significant role in complementing government efforts to provide quality education.
“We do not want to believe there is anything deliberate intended to disadvantage private school children. The private school sector represents about 49% of school establishments in Ghana and continues to support government in delivering education. When issues like these arise, they discourage school operators, parents and demoralise students who have worked hard for these examinations,” he said.
GNAPS has therefore appealed to the Ministry of Education and the examining authorities to address the concerns promptly to safeguard public confidence in the integrity of the BECE results.
