The Executive Director of IFEST, Dr Peter Anti Partey, has urged private schools to assess their internal practices following complaints about declining performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
He explained that schools must examine their teaching methods, supervision systems and academic processes before attributing poor results solely to external factors. The IFEST Director acknowledged that some private schools have raised issues about their BECE outcomes in recent years, however, he encouraged them to use evidence and proper analysis to understand the reasons behind the changes.
According to Dr Partey, private schools have historically built a reputation for strong academic supervision and monitoring, making it important for individual institutions to evaluate whether those approaches remain effective. Addressing the debate surrounding claims that private schools are being disadvantaged in examination results, he argued that such allegations require proper investigation and supporting evidence before conclusions can be reached.
“The private schools also need to do some soul searching and see whether the things that they used to do that give them that kind of result are still being done.”
Dr Peter Anti Partey
Analysing the past trends, schools who used to achieve strong outcomes through effective academic practices must determine whether those same systems are still being applied consistently. Furthermore, Dr Partey highlighted the importance of reviewing how schools conduct internal assessments, particularly mock examinations which are intended to help teachers identify learning gaps among students.
He disclosed that research conducted by IFEST found that some schools organise several tests within short periods without allowing teachers enough time to mark scripts, analyse results and use feedback to improve teaching. The Executive Director noted that frequent assessments become less useful when the information gathered from them does not inform classroom instruction and student support.
Similarly, he referenced the traditional strengths of private schools, including close monitoring of teachers and learners, as practices that helped many institutions achieve strong academic results in previous years. However, Dr Partey advised schools experiencing difficulties with BECE performance to undertake detailed reviews at the institutional level instead of making general claims about the examination process.
He explained that performance challenges may differ from one school to another, making it necessary for each institution to examine its own teaching structures and academic records. In addition, the IFEST Director encouraged private schools to gather reliable information over time to determine whether changes in performance are linked to school practices or other factors.
Calls Grow For Independent Oversight Of Examination Body
The Executive Director of IFEST, Dr Peter Anti Partey, also called for the establishment of a supervisory body to oversee the activities of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and provide a platform for resolving recurring issues within the examination system. He explained that an independent regulator would help bring together key stakeholders whenever disagreements arise and ensure that complaints about examination processes receive proper assessment.
According to the IFEST Director, the current structure gives WAEC significant responsibility over its own operations, creating the need for an additional institution that can provide oversight and strengthen accountability.
Discussing the concerns raised by some private schools about BECE results, Dr Partey noted that allegations of unfair treatment require investigations through the appropriate channels before any position can be established. He encouraged affected schools to engage institutions such as the Ministry of Education and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education to seek a formal review of their claims.
“The issues that come up every year require a higher body to sit, bring the parties together and supervise whatever challenges are being raised.”
Dr Peter Anti Partey
Furthermore, Dr Partey emphasised that a regulatory framework for WAEC could help address disagreements surrounding examination administration and create greater confidence among stakeholders. He indicated that the Ministry of Education and relevant authorities could use the current discussions as an opportunity to review the structure governing the examination body.
Meanwhile, the IFEST Director also advised private schools to support their claims with accurate data instead of relying on broad assertions about declining performance. From his perspective, scientific analysis remains essential in determining whether challenges experienced by schools represent a general trend or situations affecting specific institutions.
Addressing allegations of unfair marking practices, Dr Partey explained that there is a need for evidence based assessments to establish the reality behind such claims. He noted that researchers would require detailed information from schools, including performance records over several years, to examine patterns and identify possible causes.
Additionally, the education researcher encouraged private schools to provide raw data that can be analysed to establish whether changes in BECE outcomes are connected to school practices, examination procedures or other factors. The focus is on ensuring that discussions about examination performance are guided by facts and reliable information that can improve education delivery.
In light of this, Dr Partey urged stakeholders to avoid generalising experiences from a few institutions when assessing the performance of private schools across the country. He emphasised that some schools may be facing specific challenges which require targeted solutions, making detailed research necessary before recommendations are made.
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