Educationist Dr Charles Obeng Sarpong has called for a rethink of the criteria used to determine which Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates qualify for senior high school (SHS) placement, arguing that students’ abilities should not be judged solely by their performance in Mathematics and English.
His comments follow concerns over the reported 54,985 BECE candidates who have been unable to secure placement after failing to meet the required threshold in the two subjects.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Dr Sarpong said education at both the basic and secondary levels is critical to shaping the future of young people, making it necessary to provide every child with an opportunity to proceed to the second cycle.
He argued that the secondary school system offers students different pathways, including science, business, home economics and technical programmes, and therefore assessment should take into account the different abilities and interests of students.
“So for me, it is problematic when people are not able to continue their education because of math and English,” he lamented.
According to him, while strong performance in Mathematics and English may be essential for some programmes, particularly technical and engineering-related courses, the two subjects should not become the sole basis for determining a child’s educational future.
“We have to rethink the decision not to place some children because they didn’t perform in maths and English. They should not be the only basis and standards,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Conference of Heads (Proprietors) of Private Second-Cycle Schools (CHOPSS) has released its 2026 list of private second-cycle schools in good standing, as families continue to grapple with the challenge of securing senior high school placements for their wards.
The list provides parents and prospective students with a guide to private second-cycle institutions affiliated with CHOPSS across 14 regions of Ghana.
The Ministry of Education has also assured that the affected candidates will undergo self-placement to secure admission.
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