By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced plans by the government, through the Ministry of Education, to review the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) timetable, with the possibility of extending the number of days candidates spend writing the examination.
According to the minister, the proposed extension is aimed at easing pressure on candidates by providing longer intervals between papers.
Speaking during a surprise visit to Aburi Girls’ Senior High School in the Eastern Region on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, Mr Iddrisu said the revised timetable would give candidates more time to prepare for examinations, particularly core subjects.
He explained that under the proposed arrangement, the examination period would be extended over two weeks, beginning on a Wednesday and ending the following Wednesday.
“The government is reviewing the BECE examination calendar. The BECE will now begin on a Wednesday and end the following Wednesday, so that adequate time is given to our learners to prepare for the examination across the country,” he stated.
According to the minister, the revised timetable will ensure that candidates have a weekend break during the examination period, enabling them to better prepare for subsequent papers.
“When we start with a core subject on Wednesday, we will end with a core subject the following Wednesday, so that at least they have the weekend to prepare for the expanded workload,” he added.
The minister further indicated that the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, would oversee the implementation of the revised examination schedule once it is approved.
The move follows concerns raised by stakeholders, including education policy think tank Africa Education Watch, that the current five-day examination schedule places undue stress on students and limits the time available for preparation between subjects.
