WAEC Clarifies No Change to BECE Grading System Amidst Rumors
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued a clear statement addressing recent rumors suggesting a change in the grading system for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Despite recent adjustments to the Junior High School (JHS) curriculum, WAEC emphasized that there has been no alteration to the grading system used for the BECE.
John Kapi, the Head of Public Relations at WAEC, dismissed the claims of a new grading system as “fake news.” He reassured the public that the well-established Stanine grading system, which has been in use since the inception of the BECE in 1990, remains unchanged.
The clarification comes in response to widespread speculation following the release of BECE results for 2024. A document circulated on social media claimed that, due to changes in Ghana’s education curriculum, the method of calculating BECE results had been revised. This led to varying interpretations and confusion among students, parents, and the public.
However, Kapi stressed that no new grading formula has been introduced, and the Stanine system continues to be used. The Stanine system, a 9-point scale, has been the standard grading method for BECE candidates for over three decades. Under this system, results are categorized into nine bands, with a score of 1 representing the highest performance and 9 the lowest.
Kapi further noted that WAEC has not released any data regarding student pass rates or failure statistics, and any claims of such figures being shared on social media should be viewed with skepticism. He cautioned against the misleading distribution of unverified statistics, which could confuse the public and distort the true picture of student performance.
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“The rumors circulating about changes to the grading system are unfounded,” Kapi said. “Any modifications to the grading system, if they were to happen, would have involved extensive discussions with key stakeholders in the education sector, and would have been followed by an official public announcement.”
The rumors gained traction after the release of the 2024 BECE results, when social media users began sharing unofficial documents and statistics, claiming they were from WAEC. Kapi firmly stated that these documents were not endorsed by the examination body and urged the public to disregard such misinformation.
He further explained that the Stanine grading system is not designed to allow direct comparisons of student performance across different years. As a result, any attempts to compare the results of candidates from one year to another are not only inaccurate but also misleading.
In conclusion, WAEC has urged the public to rely on official communications from the council for accurate information. Kapi reiterated that any significant changes to the grading system would be accompanied by a formal announcement from WAEC, following careful consultation with educational stakeholders.
As Ghana continues to evolve its educational framework, it is crucial for all stakeholders, from students to educators, to stay informed and rely on accurate, credible sources to navigate these developments.
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