EduWatch advise parents, students about BECE 2023 SHS selection

Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) following this year’s second cycle school selection by students who participated in the 2023 BECE has advised parents to take a keen interest in their wards school Senior High School (SHS) selection.

In a post sighted by AcademicWeek, Director of EduWatch, Kofi Asare urged parents to make a reasonable school selection based on the realistic assessment of their ward’s academic performance in school and not BECE expectations.

In his advice to parents whose wards sat for the 2023 BECE, he said “If you know your ward is not an A student, and more so a private Junor High School candidate, don’t go choosing Category A schools and bring us wahala tomorrow

Be mindful of the prog you choose; it can determine the Senior High School you get. Science is very competitive in Category A Senior High Schools. Today’s decision has consequences tomorrow. No school is a bad one.”

After ending the 2023 BECE for School and Private Candidates on August 11, 2023, the Ghana Education Service says students who sat for the national examination will begin their Senior High Schools selection from August 23, 2023.

The selection of Senior High and Technical Schools by the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination candidates, the management of the Service in a statement shared with AcademicWeek.com said will end on September 4, 2023.

“Parents and guardians are particularly advised to take a keen interest in the selection of schools processes to ensure a smooth placement this year,” the press statement signed by a spokeswoman for GES, Cassandra Twum Ampofo stated.

Ahead of the selection of schools, the Education Service said it will from Friday, August 18, 2023, educate and sensitize BECE candidates on guidelines for choosing their preferred Senior High and Technical Schools for computer placement.

In a statement shared with AcademicWeek, the Ghana Education Service (GES) said the sensitization exercise on school selection will take place in all the respective Regional, and District Education Directorates and schools nationwide.

The 2023 selection of Second cycle schools by prospective candidates who sat for this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) according to the Education Service is scheduled from August 23, 2023, to September 4, 2023.

“Parents and guardians are particularly advised to take a keen interest in the selection of schools processes to ensure a smooth placement this year,” the press statement signed by a spokeswoman for GES, Cassandra Twum Ampofo stated.

A total of 600,714 candidates, comprising 300,323 males and 300,391 females from 18,993 Junior High Schools (JHSs) sat for the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) which ended on Friday, August 11, 2023.

With regard to the 2023 BECE for Private Candidates, a total entry figure of 1,743 candidates was recorded. This is made up of 889 males and 854 females. This year’s figure is 5.4% higher than the entry figure of 1,132 for 2022.

The 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for School Candidates was held at 2,137 examination centres across the country, while 15 centres mainly in the regional capitals were used for the BECE for Private candidates.