Two private school associations have petitioned the Ministry of Education for an independent review of the assessment, moderation and marking processes of the 2026 BECE.
The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) and the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) said the review was necessary to address concerns over disparities in candidates’ examination outcomes.
The petition was jointly presented by Dr AIisha Asi Akrofi, Chairperson of Greater Accra GNAPS, and Obenfo Nana Akwesi Gyetuah, National Executive Director of GNACOPS, to Dr Clement Abass Apaak, Deputy Minister of Education, on Friday in Accra.
The associations said private schools had observed significant disparities between the examination performance of some candidates and their sustained academic performance, as reflected in cumulative school-based assessments and other documented academic records.
“These observations are not isolated occurrences but recurring experiences reported by schools over several examination years,” the petition stated.
Dr Akrofi appealed to the Minister of Education to constitute an independent review body comprising persons of unquestionable integrity, competence and independence to inquire into the matters raised in the petition.
She asked the Ministry to determine whether the existing assessment and moderation framework provided adequate safeguards to ensure fairness, consistency, objectivity, transparency and equal treatment for all candidates, including those in private schools.
“Investigate whether there exist any systemic, procedural, administrative, or operational deficiencies capable of producing disparities or unintended inequities in the assessment outcomes of candidates from private schools,” she said.
Dr Akrofi said the independent body should evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of existing quality assurance, standardisation and oversight mechanisms governing the marking and release of BECE results.
She urged the committee to make findings of fact on the matters investigated and determine whether reforms were required to strengthen public confidence in the integrity, credibility and impartiality of the BECE assessment process.
“The Petitioners further undertake to make themselves available before the Committee to provide oral and documentary evidence in support of the petition and to cooperate fully in the discharge of its mandate,” she said.
Obenfo Gyetua stated that the petitioners were in possession of relevant documentary and empirical evidence supporting the concerns outlined in the Petition.
He expressed optimism that the review, undertaken in the national interest, would strengthen public confidence in Ghana’s educational assessment framework.
He said it would also reinforce the constitutional recognition of private education, protect the legitimate expectations of learners and parents, and further enhance the credibility of the West African Examinations Council and Ghana’s national examination system.
Obenfo Gyetua said Article 25(2) of the 1992 Constitution guaranteed the right of every person to establish and maintain private schools and other private educational institutions, subject to conditions and standards prescribed by law.
The constitutional recognition accorded to private education, he said, was not merely a right to establish schools but guaranteed that learners enrolled in duly approved private schools were entitled to equal recognition, equal treatment and equal protection of the law.
Dr Apaak commended the petitioners for engaging in a civil manner to express their displeasure without any untoward situations,and urged others to follow suit.
He assured the petitioners that their concerns would be conveyed to the sector Minister, pledging that the Ministry would take the necessary steps in an open and transparent manner to improve education in the country.
“We believed that every Ghanaian child, regardless of status or whether in public or private schools, deserves fairness and equity because the government cannot shoulder the burden of education alone.
“We have reached out to the private schools by including them in all activities and programmes including board and council members of agencies under the Ministry,” he said.
GNA
