As over 620,000 Junior High School students across the nation begin the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), a governance lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has launched a scathing critique of the examination’s structure, describing the existing timetable as nothing short of ‘cruelty’ against children.
Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, a governance analyst and lecturer, expressed his outrage on Adom FM’s ‘Dwaso Nsem’ programme, arguing that the current schedule—which forces 14- to 15-year-olds to write two papers daily and complete about 10 subjects within five days—places an excessive and unfair mental and physical burden on young candidates.
“Why should we let these children write 10 subjects in five days? At their age, this is cruelty,” Dr. Otchere-Ankrah fumed. He highlighted the logistical nightmare students face, noting they must travel to and from school while preparing for the next day’s exams, often under harsh conditions. “What happens if there is no light?” he questioned.
The University Comparison
To underscore his point, the lecturer drew a sharp contrast between the compressed BECE schedule and the more measured structure of tertiary education. He noted that while BECE candidates have barely a day to pivot between subjects, university students enjoy a far more lenient timeline.
“In the university, the maximum number of courses students study is about seven. They are taught over three months, and the exams are spread over two to three weeks. These are adults. So, how can we turn around and make these little children write 10 subjects in five days?” he asked.
Dr. Otchere-Ankrah proposed an immediate and simple solution to WAEC: spread the exams over a longer duration. “Even if they are to write one paper a day, can’t they do it in 10 days? What difference will that make in the marking?” he suggested, calling for a timetable that prioritises the child’s well-being over administrative convenience.
Intensified Public Outcry and Mental Health Crisis
The criticism comes as the 2026 BECE kicks off nationwide, with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) confirming that candidates will sit for 11 subjects over the period, writing papers in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Ghanaian Language, among others. However, Dr. Otchere-Ankrah is not alone in his assessment; recent data suggests the psychological toll on students is alarming.
A study published in Discover Psychology found a high prevalence of anxiety among final-year JHS students, with a striking 71.4% exhibiting symptoms above the chronic anxiety cut-off point. Mental health experts note that the relentless pace denies students the crucial downtime needed for memory consolidation and stress management.
Concerns have also been echoed by the Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS) in the Ahafo Region. Chairman Edwin Sarpong Boakye has similarly expressed dissatisfaction with WAEC for requiring students to sit for two papers in a single day, urging the council to reconsider and allow candidates to write one subject per day.
A Nation’s Future at Stake?
The debate has also sparked discussions about the broader implications of high-stakes testing. Analysis suggests that the pressure to succeed in the BECE—which acts as a “gateway” to Senior High School—is so immense that it encourages systemic examination malpractice. Critics argue that the current format measures a child’s ability to endure “conditions that would unsettle most adults” rather than their true academic potential.
As the examination proceeds, Dr. Otchere-Ankrah’s warning resonates loudly: “We must look at ways to revise this exam structure because it brings so much pressure on these children,” he concluded.
