The 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) commenced on Monday, August 7, 2023, with a total of over 600,000 candidates taking the examination.
There are 300,323 males and 300,391 females in total, representing 18,993 schools across the country. They’re the last batch of students to take the BECE. Following the implementation of the revised curriculum in 2019, an updated examination will be administered in 2024.
Students will take a final test in 2024 based on the new Standard-based curriculum before graduating from junior high school. This means that in 2024, a brand new Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will be implemented, marking the beginning of a new era in student examinations. It’s important to remember that BECE has been around for more than 30 years.
The government recently gave a sum of GH¢55 million to the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) to prepare for the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
According to Ms. Winifred Ampiaw, the Public Relations Officer of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the total amount of monies received for the BECE is GH¢10.5 million, while the funds collected for the WASSCE amount to GH¢40 million.
The payment was made after the Minority in Parliament voiced out their displeasure with the government’s failure to clear WAEC’s outstanding debt.
Minority Spokesperson on Education, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe expressed serious worry over WAEC’s urgent need for approximately GH50 million to meet its financial obligations and ensure the smooth organization of the upcoming 2023 examination.
He emphasized the difficulties that the WAEC is currently facing, noting the government’s failure to provide funds for paying those who gave their services during the 2022 WASSCE. This covers payments owed to supervisors, invigilators, examiners, and other staff members who assisted with the exam.
