Eduwatch questions NPP’s plan to abolish BECE for SHS placement

Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) has questioned the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) promise in its manifesto to introduce a Senior High School (SHS) placement assessment system to replace the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The Executive Director of Education Watch, Mr Kofi Asare in a post sighted by Pretertiary.com described the promise as a step in the right direction however he raised concerns of the unavailability of further details in the 2024 manifesto.

“The New Patriotic Party (NPP) promises in its 2024 manifesto to introduce a new SHS placement assessment system to replace what the BECE currently does. Unfortunately, details are unavailable in the manifesto,” the EduWatch official said.

The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is both for certification and selection into Senior High Schools and Technical Institutes in Ghana.

The results of the examination are based on Continuous Assessment and the external examination. The Continuous Assessment forms 30% whilst the external examination forms 70% of the total assessment.

Candidates in the third year of Junior High Schools (JHSs) approved by the Ghana Education Service (GES) are eligible to register to take part in this examination.

Candidates are graded based on their performance in the external examination (objective and written) and the Continuous (Internal) Assessment marks provided by the schools.

A nine-point numerical scale is used in grading the candidates, with Grade 1 denoting the highest performance and Grade 9 the lowest.

The results of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) are released in August to enable successful and qualified candidates to enter Senior High Schools and Technical Institutes at the beginning of the academic year.

The results lists are sent to the participating schools, whilst each candidate receives a statement of results through his/her school. Candidates can also check their results online with an access card at www.waecgh.org.

EduWatch questions for NPP’s plan to scrab BECE for SHS placement

1. What problem does replacing BECE for SHS placement assessment seek to solve?

2. What will BECE be replaced with?

3. What is the value addition case?

4. How does it solve the key BECE challenges?

5. What is this new method of assessment? High stakes, aptitude, portfolio assessment?

6. What is the quality assurance case?

7. What is the likely implication of a possible ‘no subject-based external assessment policy’ on student learning attitude?

8. How will this proposal affect the current Computerised Schools Selection And Placement System (CSSPS)?

EduWatch’s questions come after the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the 2024 manifesto outlined ways he intends to improve Ghana’s education sector if elected president in the general election.

Speaking at his party’s manifesto launch in Takoradi on Sunday, the Vice-President and leader of the NPP emphasised the critical role these educational initiatives play in the nation’s development and the future of its youth.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, at the 2024 election manifesto launch, noted that his administration would be dedicated to ensuring that every Ghanaian child, regardless of their financial or social background, had access to quality education.