Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has wished candidates across the country success as they commence the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) today.
The Minister, in a brief message issued to the candidates on Sunday, May 3, 2026, admonished them to write the papers with confidence and discipline.
“As students across the country prepare to write the BECE tomorrow, I wish you all the very best,” the Tamale South Member of Parliament stated.
Mr. Iddrisu urged the candidates to “stay calm, be confident, and give your best in every paper.”
Academic integrity, the Minister noted, is also a virtue the candidates should uphold throughout the examination period, as any act of malpractice could cost them their future.
“Remember to uphold the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity.”
The minister said the months of preparation and hard work should give candidates confidence as they enter the examination halls.
“Your hard work has brought you this far; trust in it. Good luck and success to you all.”
The examination, conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) nationwide, will run till Monday, May 11, 2026, with 620,141 candidates from 20,395 schools expected to participate.
According to WAEC, it has strengthened measures to ensure examination malpractice is curbed, and has cautioned candidates to strictly comply with the rules and regulations throughout the period.
“Candidates found engaging in any form of malpractice will face severe sanctions,” an official said, stressing that possession of prohibited materials, including mobile phones, will not be tolerated.
Also, the Council has warned candidates not to misconduct themselves towards supervisors and invigilators, noting that assault or disruption could lead to serious consequences.
The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ernest Kofi Davis, has meanwhile, said officials implicated in previous examination malpractices will not partake in this year’s exercise.
“All supervisors and invigilators under investigation for their alleged involvement in last year’s BECE have been barred from participating,” he said.
The tougher measures come as authorities seek to protect the credibility of the BECE, one of Ghana’s most important national examinations and the main pathway for placement into senior high schools.
BECE 2026: Over 620k candidates begin examination today as WAEC cautions against malpractices
