Education think tank Africa Education Watch has criticized the structure of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), describing it as unfair and excessively stressful for candidates.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, May 7, Executive Secretary of EduWatch, Kofi Asare, argued that the current examination format places undue pressure on students because of the number of subjects they are required to write within a limited period.

According to him, the arrangement is outdated and does not reflect modern assessment systems used in other countries, where aptitude tests and continuous assessment are incorporated into placement processes.

He further called for reforms to the BECE structure, proposing that the number of examinable subjects be reduced to four core areas.

“Piling 10 subjects over a 5-day high-stakes BECE just for school placement is torture on learners. Reduce to 4 subjects: Math, English, Science & General Paper. Others even use an aptitude test plus continuous assessment. This is 2026, not 1996,” he said.

His comments come amid the ongoing 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination, during which more than 10 students and invigilators have reportedly been arrested over examination malpractice.

The nationwide examination, organised by the West African Examinations Council, is expected to run until May 11, with 620,141 candidates from 20,395 schools participating.

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The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the government, demanding urgent action over the alleged assault of teachers by military personnel in the Western Region.

The incident is reported to have involved officers of the 2nd Infantry Battalion stationed at Apremdo in Takoradi, which has triggered widespread anger among teachers, particularly in the Wassa West District, where some educators claim they were assaulted and humiliated.

Speaking on Newsfeed on Channel One TV on Thursday, GNAT General Secretary Thomas Tanko Musah described the incident as part of a growing pattern of attacks against teachers, warning that the situation was becoming unacceptable.

He said teachers were increasingly coming under attack from different sections of society, including students, parents, and now members of the security services.

“For us as GNAT, our motto always stands, ‘We live to teach.’ However, it looks like some stakeholders are becoming a stumbling block on our way,” he said.

“These students, some of them have been beating teachers. Some parents also go to schools and beat teachers. And now the military people too have joined the beating,” he said.

“And we are telling ourselves that if the state cannot protect us, then we are not safe.”

Mr Musah noted that GNAT has given the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service two weeks to address the concerns, including paying the medical bills of affected teachers, providing compensation, and ensuring that those responsible are punished.

According to Musah, affected teachers have already reported the incident to the police and are assisting with investigations.

He warned that failure to act within the deadline would trigger industrial action.

“If the powers that be fail to act, nobody should underestimate our actions,” he said.

“That means strikes, demonstrations, and every option under the Constitution is on the table. We will deploy them as and when necessary.”

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A protest by youth in Shama-Nyankrom in the Western Region on Monday, May 4, disrupted movement in the area for hours, affecting both industrial transport and candidates sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The demonstrators blocked the main road in the town by burning car tyres and mounting barricades, bringing traffic to a standstill despite the presence of police personnel deployed to the scene.

The action halted the movement of heavy-duty trucks transporting clay to major manufacturing firms, including Twyford Ceramics and Marco Polo Tiles, known for producing tiles and water closets.

However, beyond the industrial impact, the protest also significantly affected education activities, as BECE candidates and their teachers were left stranded and unable to reach their examination centres on time.

Some candidates were forced to wait for hours as access routes remained blocked, raising concerns about delays and disruptions to the nationwide examination.

The protest was organised by a group calling itself the Nyankrom Concerned Youth, who say their actions were triggered by the government’s failure to act on longstanding concerns about the poor state of roads in the community.

Speaking to Channel One TV’s Akwasi Agyei Annim, the group’s leader, Israel Kwesi Eshun, said the demonstration followed the expiration of a one-month ultimatum issued to authorities to ensure contractors returned to site to rehabilitate the deteriorating roads.

According to him, the situation has worsened over time, largely due to the activities of heavy-duty trucks servicing the tile manufacturing companies, which he said have left the main road in a severely damaged and almost unusable condition.

He expressed frustration over what he described as official inaction, warning that the protest would not be a one-off event.

The incident highlights growing tensions in the area over infrastructure neglect, as residents balance the economic benefits of industrial activity with the impact on local roads and daily life.