2023 BECE would be the last in history: Here is why

The 2023 BECE would be the last in history since the Junior High School system was introduced in Ghana.

On September 1, 1987, Ghana brought into existence The Junior Secondary School (JSS) system, which produced its first fruits (BECE) candidates and graduates in 1990. The first BECE was therefore written in 1990. This was part of the Free and compulsory primary education that was introduced to Ghana with the Education Act of 1961.

But all this will be history because, per the new curriculum introduced in 2019, a new examination will be administered to the first batch of Junior High School learners in 2024.

The proof that the 2023 BECE will be the last BECE in the 33-year history of the exam is contained in the GES’ directive to all Junior High Schools that all students who were in JHS2 in 2022 should be promoted to JHS2 this year.

According to the GES, the students in JHS this year will be the last batch of students to write the WAEC-administered BECE this year.

In 2024, students will write their Junior High School leaving examination, which will be based on the new Standard-based curriculum. What this means is 2024 will see the introduction of a new BECE and a new era in examining students.

Due to the above, the GES called on all schools to promote all students who were in form 2 last year.

The possibility of the name of the new BECE changing is also very high, given that the Ministry of Education has changed the names of all key features of the old curriculum with the introduction of the new one.

Teachers changed to facilities, among others.  The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service are projected to provide additional relevant updates on the new BECE, which starts in 2024.

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For now, there is no doubt that Junior Secondary School (JSS) now Junior High School (JHS) which started in 1987 and let to the first BECE being written some 33 years ago in 1990 will end this year and pave way for the new BECE.