By Leo Nelson
Ahead of the 2026 Basic Education Certification Examination (BECE) which commences today, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has cautioned candidates and invigilators against examination malpractice to ensure the smooth conduct of the exams.
The Minister issued the caution during a monitoring visit to Asawinso Senior High School in the Western North Region as candidates sat the examination nationwide. He inspected the examination at Asawinso Senior High School as national candidates commenced their papers.
A total of 620,141 candidates from 20,395 schools began the examination across the country. Iddrisu pointed to concerns over rising examination malpractice and referenced last year’s figures affecting candidates and papers. He advised learners and invigilators to uphold integrity.
“Honesty and integrity define citizenship. Honesty and integrity define patriotism. And honesty and integrity must be the hallmark of your molding.”
The Minister indicated that teachers would be sanctioned for facilitating cheating, and that enforcement actions would be taken under the law. He advised the invigilators were expected to uphold high standards of integrity during the exercise.
The Minister recapped that examination malpractice cases recorded in the previous year led to sanctions and convictions of some teachers involved in the examination malpractices.
He emphasised that enforcement of examination rules remained firm across the education service to maintain discipline and credibility. From his perspective, these measures were expected to deter others from engaging in examination malpractice.
He assured candidates that questions were drawn from the syllabus they had studied and required confidence. He added that the examination tested learning across nine years of preparation.
The Education Minister noted delays in the arrival of question papers at centres and called for review of transport arrangements. The Tamale South MP also observed that candidates were scheduled to be seated at 8:30am and begin at 9:00am in line with examination guidelines.
He noted operational concerns when answer sheets arrived without question papers at some centres. He mentioned coordination with WAEC authorities for reforms to improve efficiency.
Iddrisu emphasised integrity as a foundation for responsible citizenship and national development. He extended best wishes to all candidates participating in the 2026 BECE.
The Minister reiterated that malpractice cases had led to convictions and removal from payroll under education service rules, warning that compliance remained essential for all examination stakeholders.
He expressed confidence that the examination exercise would be conducted with fairness across all centres nationwide, while affirming commitment to improving education standards and safeguarding assessment integrity.
He encouraged all stakeholders to maintain responsibility throughout the examination period across the nation.
The Education Minister continued his monitoring tour of BECE centres across the Western North Region during the examination period. He visited Asawinso Senior High School and Boako MA Basic School to observe proceedings.
At Boako MA Basic School he observed 173 candidates from nine schools writing their examinations. He monitored adherence to examination guidelines and timing across the centres. He addressed candidates and assured them that the examination remained based on their syllabus and learning.
“It’s just a test of what you have learned. Nothing will be taken off syllabus for purposes of the questions you’ll answer. So no need to panic. Don’t be emotionally stressed”
He encouraged candidates to remain calm and focus on answering questions they had studied in school. He stated that emotional pressure would not support strong performance in examinations.
Minister Iddrisu conveyed goodwill messages from the President and assured candidates of government support during the exercise.
“I’ve just come to wish you the best of luck on behalf of President Mahama and on my own behalf, and to give you assurance that take these exams as normal.”
He encouraged media attention on educational infrastructure conditions across the country, while expressing satisfaction with the conduct of examinations across the centres visited in the Western North Region during the monitoring exercise.
Haruna restated commitment to improving examination systems and ensuring integrity across national assessment processes for credible educational outcomes in Ghana nationwide.