The 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) officially commenced nationwide on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, marking a significant milestone for hundreds of thousands of junior high school students across Ghana. A total of 603,328 candidates are sitting for the exams this year, comprising 306,078 females and 297,250 males, reflecting a strong female participation rate.
A visit by Thepressradio.com to examination centers in the Ayawaso Central constituency, specifically Kotobabi 5, 7, and 11 Junior High Schools, revealed a well-organized operation. This cluster served as one of the many designated examination centers, hosting students from five different schools.
Speaking exclusively to Thepressradio.com, Vifah Edmond, the supervisor in charge of the Kotobabi centre, expressed satisfaction with the proceedings on the first day. He commended the smooth process and flow of the examination, noting that no challenges or incidents had been recorded. According to Mr. Edmond, the full contingent of students assigned to his centre was present, with no absenteeism. “The total number of candidates is 178, with all present. The process is smooth with no challenges,” he affirmed, indicating a positive start to the crucial examinations.
Security at the examination centers appeared notably tighter this year, a clear indicator of increased efforts to prevent any form of malpractice. Officials were observed maintaining strict vigilance at their posts, closely monitoring the examination process to ensure fairness and integrity. This enhanced security presence reflects a broader commitment from educational authorities to uphold the sanctity of the BECE.
Ghana Education Service Issues Stern Warning Against Malpractice
Ahead of the exams, the Ghana Education Service (GES) had issued a stern and unequivocal warning to teachers and invigilators, emphasizing the critical importance of refraining from any involvement in examination malpractices or assisting students during the 2025 BECE. The institution made it clear that it would adopt drastic measures against anyone found culpable, including the severe consequence of dismissal from their positions.
“Invigilators and supervisors who are caught aiding exam malpractice will be severely punished, and I must say that it might cost them their job because we want good role models,” the GES warned, underscoring its zero-tolerance policy. This firm stance aims to deter potential misconduct and ensure that the examination environment remains free from irregularities.
The Director-General of the GES, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, further elaborated on the dangers associated with examination malpractices during a press briefing held on Monday, June 9, 2025. He stressed that students who resort to cheating to achieve impressive results fundamentally undermine the entire education system. Such practices, he argued, make it exceedingly difficult to accurately assess students’ true performance and the effectiveness of teaching methodologies.
Professor Davis emphasized the dire need for a collaborative effort from all stakeholders—including parents, teachers, invigilators, and the wider community—to combat the growing trend of examination malpractices among students. He articulated the systemic damage caused by cheating, highlighting how it distorts the true picture of educational outcomes.
“We need the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure that examination malpractices of all forms are reduced to the barest minimum or eliminated,” Prof. Davis urged. “Why? Because examination malpractice does not help the system to accurately measure the performance of the students. Once students are cheating their way through, it’s difficult to ascertain how well our education system is performing. We are appealing to all to support us in fighting examination malpractice.”
The GES’s resolute stance, coupled with heightened security measures, signals a concerted national effort to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s basic education certification. The smooth commencement of the exams, as observed by Thepressradio.com, offers a hopeful start to this crucial academic exercise.
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Source: Thepressradio.com
