The government has launched the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) school selection and placement process, introducing a fresh set of guidelines aimed at enhancing fairness, structure, and future-oriented choices for students transitioning into senior high and technical education.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, Free Senior High School (FSHS) Coordinator Sena Okity-Duah announced that the exercise would run from May 27 to June 6. Teams from the FSHS Secretariat and the TVET Service will embark on a nationwide sensitisation tour to brief students, parents, and school heads on the new procedures.
Under the updated framework, students are required to select seven schools — five primary choices and two alternatives — with a minimum of three boarding schools among the main options. The selection must reflect a balance across the education spectrum, with no more than one Category A and two Category B schools allowed. Category C schools remain flexible for day or boarding options, but candidates cannot fill all five main choices with them.
Notably, the process now emphasizes parental involvement more than ever. “No selection form should be submitted without the signature of a parent or guardian,” Madam Okity-Duah said, adding that guardians should keep a copy of the completed form.
The guidelines also cater to students pursuing technical and vocational pathways, requiring them to choose five TVET institutions. Similarly, aspiring STEM students are encouraged to target science-focused institutions aligned with careers in medicine, engineering, and technology.
The initiative aims to align educational choices with students’ strengths and long-term aspirations while reinforcing transparency and accountability throughout the process. Once placed, students will not be allowed to change their selected schools — a move officials say ensures order and reduces post-placement chaos.
With the new measures in place, the government hopes to smooth the transition from basic to secondary education while helping students and families make more informed, strategic decisions about their future.
