Jumping Pupils to Write BECE Is a Criminal Breach of GES Rules — Daniel Acheampong

Former General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Daniel Acheampong, has cautioned school authorities against promoting pupils to sit for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) before they reach the appropriate academic level, describing the practice as a violation of Ghana Education Service (GES) regulations.

Speaking on Kessben TV’s Digest Show, Mr. Acheampong emphasized that the rules governing the promotion of pupils across class levels are clearly defined within GES policy frameworks and must be strictly adhered to by all educational institutions.

According to him, allowing students to skip required stages of their academic progression to write the BECE constitutes an offence under GES guidelines and could be deemed a criminal act.

“The regulations guiding the promotion of pupils are explicit. It is against GES rules to push a child to write BECE when that child has not reached the appropriate level,” he stated.

Mr. Acheampong acknowledged that while some pupils may demonstrate exceptional academic ability, this should not justify bypassing established procedures designed to ensure fairness and uniformity in the education system.

He stressed that although a few brilliant students may be capable of excelling under such circumstances, endorsing the practice broadly could undermine educational standards and create inequality among pupils.

“We know there are brilliant children who can go through, but that should not become an approved mechanism for all pupils. There must be laid-down procedures that apply to everyone,” he added.

He further urged school administrators, teachers, and parents to respect the structured progression system implemented by the GES to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s basic education framework.

Mr. Acheampong’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions about academic standards and compliance within the country’s pre-tertiary education sector.