GES Sets July 20 for 2026 BECE School Selection as Senior High School Reforms Accelerate Nationwide

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially scheduled the school selection process for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates to run from July 20 to August 7, 2026. This year’s exercise involves 620,141 candidates who participated in the examinations held earlier in May. In a significant shift from previous protocols, candidates will now have the opportunity to assess their academic performance before making their selections. The updated guidelines require students to choose eight senior high schools, including two from Category 'A'—specifically one boarding and one day school. To ensure a seamless process, GES has mandated regional directors to facilitate training for education officials on these new selection guidelines between July 15 and July 29, 2026.

While candidates prepare for placement, the senior high school landscape is undergoing structural changes, particularly in the Ashanti Region. Approximately 59 schools in the region have successfully transitioned from the double-track system to a single-track model. According to Mr. Henry Osei Boateng, the GES Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer, the remaining schools have adopted a transitional system where entire year groups can remain on campus simultaneously. Although the government aims to phasedly retire the double-track model, the full adoption of the single-track system nationwide remains contingent on addressing existing infrastructure and furniture deficits. Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene has already requested immediate data on these deficits to expedite the necessary interventions.

Beyond infrastructure, the GES is also focusing on enhancing the curriculum and student welfare. The service recently launched the National Entrepreneurship Programme for Senior High Schools (NEP-SHS) in collaboration with Procus Ghana Limited. Aimed at curbing youth unemployment, the initiative is being piloted at Achimota School, Wesley Grammar School, and the Accra STEM School. Deputy Director-General Prof. Smile Dzisi emphasized that the program will equip students with enterprise development and innovation skills through a structured 10-month module, concluding in a business pitch competition designed to foster self-reliance among graduates.

Parallel to these academic reforms, efforts to safeguard student well-being are intensifying. The Volta Regional Command of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) recently conducted a capacity-building seminar for Guidance and Counselling Coordinators across various second-cycle institutions. This initiative, marking the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, seeks to empower school counsellors with the skills necessary to detect and address substance abuse. Regional Commander SNCO Worlanyo K. Fianu stressed the vital role of preventive education in maintaining a conducive learning environment, ensuring that as schools expand their academic and entrepreneurial offerings, student health and safety remain a top priority.