GES Announces Return to International WASSCE in May/June 2026.

• Ghana’s SHS3 students to write International WASSCE in May/June 2026
• The 2026 BECE will also be administered from May 4-11, 2026.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially announced that all SHS 3 students in Ghana will write the International WASSCE in May/June 2026. The International WASSCE is the standardized examination conducted annually by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for all five of its member countries—The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

These English-speaking West African nations collaborate through WAEC to administer uniform examinations at the pre-tertiary level for both secondary and basic schools, ensuring consistency in assessment across the sub-region.

Return After Seven Years of the Ghana-Only WASSCE

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the academic and examination calendars of WAEC member states were severely disrupted. As a result, Ghana conducted its WASSCE separately during the recovery period—an arrangement popularly known as the Ghana-Only WASSCE for School Candidates.

Seven years later, Ghana is set to fully rejoin the sub-regional examination schedule. Starting May/June 2026, all final-year students across the five member states will once again write the WASSCE simultaneously in their respective countries.

GES Calls for Adequate Preparation

The GES has urged all public and private senior high schools, teachers, and students to prepare adequately for the upcoming examinations. With less than six months until the 2026 International WASSCE, the Service emphasized the need for intensified academic work across schools.

Ghana has returned to the standard academic calendar in the ongoing 2025/2026 academic year, paving the way for full alignment with WAEC’s traditional examination timetable.

2026 BECE Rescheduled to May

In a related development, WAEC, in collaboration with the GES and the Ministry of Education, has rescheduled the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to May 4–11, 2026. This marks the first time in seven years that Ghana’s national examination for Junior High School students will be administered in May.

READ: GES addresses poor 2025 WASSCE for School results concerns

GES Encourages Stakeholder Collaboration

Authorities remain hopeful that students, teachers, school administrators, and all relevant stakeholders will play their part to ensure a smooth and successful conduct of both the WASSCE and BECE in 2026.