Mahama gov’t reverts to old BECE school selection system

The John Mahama government has returned to the old school selection system for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates.

Candidates must now choose their preferred schools before taking exams, as was done in the past. The BECE school selection and placement process started on Tuesday, May 27. It will end on Friday, June 6.

Sena Okity-Duah, coordinator of the Free SHS (FSHS) Secretariat, announced this at a news conference. Teams will be sent across the country to guide candidates, parents, and schools on the new procedures.

The new guidelines state that candidates can select only one Category A school. They may also choose up to two Category B schools. In total, candidates can select five main schools and two alternatives. At least three of these must be boarding schools.

Okity-Duah emphasized that once a candidate is placed in a selected school, they cannot change their choice. The school selection form must be signed by a parent or guardian. This form should then be submitted to the headmaster of the candidate’s junior high school. Parents are advised to keep a copy for reference.