Reduce BECE Subjects from 10 to 4 to Ease Stress and Save Time – EduWatch’s Kofi Asare Proposes Major Reform

The Executive Director of Africa Education Watch (EduWatch), Mr. Kofi Asare, has sparked a national conversation on education reform with a bold proposal: reduce the number of subjects students write in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) from the current 10 or 11 to just 4.

This change, he argues, would significantly reduce examination stress on students, shorten the duration of the exams from five or six days to just two days, and save the country substantial costs while maintaining educational quality.

The Proposal in Detail

Mr. Asare suggests that BECE candidates should be examined in only four papers:

• Mathematics
• English Language
• General Science
• General Paper

The General Paper would integrate content from the other subjects currently examined separately, including:

• Social Studies
• Religious and Moral Education
• Creative Arts and Design
• Career Technology
• Ghanaian Language
• Computing
• French (and Arabic where applicable)

According to Asare, this structure ensures students continue learning the full curriculum because the General Paper will cover sections from all subjects, keeping them compulsory (with optional language sections).

“We can decide that we do only the three core subjects: English, Mathematics, and Science, and then the remaining subjects will be a General Paper… They will only learn the ones that they are likely to be examined on if we don’t do this.” Kofi Asare

Why This Reform is Needed Now

Kofi Asare explained that the purpose of the BECE has fundamentally changed since the introduction of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy in 2017:

• Before Free SHS: BECE was a high-stakes screening exam. Only students with good aggregates (e.g., 35 or better) progressed to SHS. Less than 65% qualified.
• After Free SHS: Access to secondary education is now near-universal. About 98% of candidates now qualify for placement. BECE now mainly serves as a school placement tool rather than a gatekeeper.

He questioned the logic of subjecting students to 10 subjects over 5–6 days for what is essentially a placement exercise.

“Why do candidates still sit 10 subjects over five days for what is essentially a placement exercise?” Kofi Asare

Expected Benefits of the Reform

1. Reduced Student Stress : Fewer papers mean less pressure and better mental health for candidates.
2. Shorter Exam Period : From 5–6 days to just 2 days.
3. Cost Savings : Ghana currently spends over GH¢200 million annually on BECE. A leaner exam could cut costs by up to 40%.
4. Improved Efficiency : Less logistics, fewer invigilators, and faster release of results.
5. Maintained Learning Standards : The General Paper ensures broad coverage of the curriculum.

Mr. Asare dismissed fears that reducing subjects would lower education quality, noting that such concerns are often emotive and not backed by strong evidence. He welcomed data-driven counterarguments.

Broader Context and Reactions

This proposal comes amid ongoing discussions about modernising Ghana’s basic education assessment system for the 21st century. Many education stakeholders have welcomed the conversation, while others are expected to debate the potential impact on subject mastery and teaching practices.

The 2026 BECE recently took place (May 4–11), with over 620,000 candidates participating. Calls for reform like this often gain traction after each examination cycle highlights the stress and high costs involved.