Education Minister Urges BECE Candidates to Stay Calm, Uphold Integrity as Exams Begin

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has sent a goodwill message to candidates writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) from today, urging them to stay calm, be confident, and maintain academic integrity.

“As students across the country prepare to write the BECE tomorrow, I wish you all the very best,” the Minister said in a statement issued Sunday.

He encouraged candidates to “stay calm, be confident, and give your best in every paper,” adding that they should “remember to uphold the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity.”

“Your hard work has brought you this far, trust in it. Good luck and success to you all,” Mr Iddrisu added.

The BECE, conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), begins nationwide on May 4, 2026, for final-year junior high school students.

Over 620,000 students will sit for the exam which will end on May 11, 2026.

The examination determines placement into senior high schools and technical institutes under the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

The Ministry of Education has, in recent years, intensified its campaign against examination malpractice, warning candidates and invigilators of sanctions for cheating.

Story by Hajara Fuseini

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