The results of the maiden Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) under the Common Core Curriculum have been released with the cancellation of the results of 42 candidates.

They are made up of 41 School candidates and one Private individual.

In addition,  the subject results of 377 School candidates and three Private candidates have been cancelled for the offence of taking foreign materials into the examination hall or colluding with other candidates.

Moreso, the results of 33 School candidates and three Private candidates have been withheld while some subject results of candidates from 149 schools have been withheld for reported irregularities.

“The withheld results may be cancelled or released based on the outcome of investigations,” a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), John Kapi, said.

It said the action against the affected candidates followed the completion of investigations into several cases of irregularity detected during the conduct of the examination and marking of scripts approved by the Final Awards and Examiners’ Appointment Committee for the BECE at its 35th Meeting last Wednesday.

Statistics

A total of 569,236 candidates, made up of 282,703 males and 286,533 females from 19,505 participating schools entered for the school examination.

This includes 59 candidates with visual impairment, 263 with hearing impairment and 161 candidates with other test accommodation needs.

The BECE for Private Candidates recorded a total entry figure of 1,390 candidates. This was made up of 750 males and 640 females.

Fifteen centres, mostly in the regional capitals, were used for the BECE for Private Candidates.

Out of the total number of candidates who entered for the examination, five were absent.

The results for Private Candidates, it said, could be accessed at the council’s website www.waecgh.org.

“School candidates who so desire, may also access their results online at the council’s website,” the statement said.

Caution

The council cautioned all stakeholders to be wary of fraudsters who promise to upgrade results for a fee. “Candidates are to note that WAEC results are secured and can be authenticated.

“The council expresses its appreciation to stakeholders especially the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, the security agencies, heads of schools, supervisors, invigilators, examiners and all who in diverse ways supported it in the successful conduct of the examination and release of results,” it said.

Academic year

In a related development, all first-year students are to commence the 2024-2025 academic year from October 30, 2024.

The fresh students would be reporting to school with continuing students in the single-track institutions, and second-year students in the transitional academic school calendar will also report for the new academic year on October 30.

The start of the academic year, per the 2024-2025 academic calendar, is for both first-year students going to single track and transitional schools, as well as all second-year students.

Circular

According to a circular addressed to all regional directors of education, the start of the new academic year on October 30 for the SHS students is to revert the academic calendar to the pre-COVID-19 era, where the academic year began in the last quarter of the year.

“This re-opening date aims to ensure that the school calendar starts in September next year and pave the way for our final year students to write their 2025/2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in May-June,” the academic calendar for pre-tertiary schools signed by the acting Director of Schools and Instructions Division of the GES, Prince C. Agyemang-Duah, said.

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