The Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Upper East Region has announced that a total of 22,326 candidates will sit for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), scheduled from Monday, May 4 to Monday, May 11, 2026.
According to the Regional Education Directorate, the examination will be conducted across 95 centres in all districts and municipalities, marking a critical academic milestone for thousands of junior high school students preparing to transition into senior high school.
Out of the total number of candidates, 19,381 are from public schools, comprising 8,387 males and 10,994 females, while 2,945 candidates are from private schools, including 1,388 males and 1,557 females.
Bolgatanga Municipality leads in numbers
Data from the Directorate indicates that Bolgatanga Municipality recorded the highest number of candidates, with 2,974 candidates across 14 centres, reaffirming its position as a key educational hub in the region.
It is followed by Bongo District with 2,085 candidates across 9 centres, and Kassena-Nankana West District with 1,936 candidates in 7 centres.
Other districts with relatively high participation include Bawku Municipality (2,038 candidates), Talensi District (1,577 candidates), and Bawku West District (1,499 candidates).
Variation across districts
Despite the high numbers in some areas, disparities remain. Builsa South District recorded the lowest figure, with 719 candidates across 3 centres, while Binduri District and Bolgatanga East District registered 1,036 and 711 candidates respectively.
Notably, Nabdam District recorded no private school candidates, with all 756 candidates drawn from public schools.
GES cautions against malpractice
The GES has urged candidates to remain disciplined and adhere strictly to examination regulations. In a statement, the Directorate warned against all forms of malpractice, stressing that strict monitoring systems have been put in place to ensure a credible and incident-free exercise.
“Candidates are advised to remain focused, prepare adequately, and avoid any form of examination malpractice,” the statement emphasised.
Female participation on the rise
The data also highlights a sustained trend of higher female participation, with girls outnumbering boys in both public and private school categories. Education stakeholders say this reflects growing success in efforts to improve girls’ access to education across the region.
A1 Radio | 101.1MHz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
