The West African Examinations Council has dismissed claims that different marking schemes are being used for Basic Education Certificate Examination candidates in private schools compared to those in public schools.
The concerns were raised by a national association of private schools after the release of the 2026 BECE results. According to the association, there was a noticeable gap between the performance of private school students during the examination and the grades they eventually received.
The association described the trend as worrying, especially because many private schools had invested heavily in preparing their candidates for the examination. It argued that the results did not reflect the effort put in by students and teachers, and called for an urgent review of the marking and grading process.
The association further suggested that some conspiracy in the system might be working against private school candidates and requested transparency on how scripts from private schools are handled.
The West African Examination Council, in response to the claims, stated clearly that there is no separate marking scheme for any category of candidates. It explained that all BECE candidates, whether from private or public schools, are treated as one group and assessed using the same standards.
According to the council, once examination scripts are received, they go through a process of coding and anonymization. This means that markers do not have access to the names of candidates, the names of schools, or any information that would indicate whether a script belongs to a private or public school student.
The only identifier used is the candidate’s index number, which is needed for results processing. The council emphasized that this system is designed to ensure fairness and to prevent any form of bias during marking. It added that all examiners are trained to apply a single marking scheme consistently, and that supervision teams monitor the process to maintain integrity.
The council provided a detailed explanation of the process through which Basic Education Certification Examination scripts are handled from the time they leave the examination halls until results are released.
According to the council, the procedure is designed to ensure security, confidentiality, and fairness for all candidates, regardless of the type of school they attend.
This involves the collection of all answer booklets immediately after the examination. Invigilators bundle the scripts according to subject and examination centre, after which are sealed and transported under strict supervision to desiginated central marking centres across the country.
Additionally, the council reiterated that security personnel and examination officials oversee the movement of these script to prevent tampering or loss. The council noted that a chain of custody system is maintained so that every parcel of scripts can be tracked from the examination hall to the marking centre. All answer booklets are collected and transported to central marking centres.
Also, all persons who are deployed to mark the scripts are trained examiners who use the standardized marking schemes and marking guides. These guides are developed by subject experts and are used by all markers across the country. The council noted that marking is not done by school type, region, or any other category. Every script is marked on its merit.
Supervisors and Chief Examiners also conduct regular checks to ensure that marking is consistent. Where discrepancies are found, scripts are re-marked to ensure accuracy. The council stressed that these measures are in place to protect the credibility of the examination and to ensure that every script is marked with accuracy.
The Right to Seek Clarification
The council acknowledged that while it rejected the claims of a separate marking scheme, concerns about examination results are legitimate. It encouraged schools, parents, and candidates with concerns to use the official channels available to seek for redress
It stated that candidates may request a review of their results if they suspect error. The council also said that it is willing to meet with school associations to explain its processes and adddress specific corncerns.
In addition, stakeholders were urged to present evidence when raising issues, so that investigations can be carried out properly. The goal, it said, is to build and maintain trust in the examination system. For parents and guardians, the assurance is that the examination body remains committed to protecting the integrity of the BECE. Any concerns that arise will be addressed through the appropriate channels.
The position of the examinations council is clear. There is one BECE, one marking scheme, and one standard for all candidates. The process is designed to be blind to school type and to focus only on academic performance.
While concerns raised by stakeholders are important, the council believes that transparency and evidence based engagement are essential going forward. As Ghana’s education system continues to grow, maintaining trust in national examinations will remain essential.
In conclusion, the Council has pledged that fairness will continue to guide the BECE process for the thousands of students expected to sit for it in the coming years.
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