Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) and the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has presented a petition to the Ministry of Education for an independent review of the assessment, moderation and marking processes of this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The associations said private schools have consistently observed significant disparities between the sustained academic performances of many of their candidates, as demonstrated by cumulative school-based assessments and other documented academic records.
The petition was jointly presented by Dr AIisha Asi Akrofi, Chairperson of the Greater Accra GNAPS, and Obenfo Nana Akwesi Gyetuah, National Executive Director of GNACOPS, to Dr Clement Abass Apaak, the Deputy Minister of Education, on Friday in Accra.
“These observations are not isolated occurrences but recurring experiences reported by schools over several examination years,” the petition stated.
Dr Akrofi, appealed to the Minister of Education to constitute an Independent Review Body comprising persons of unquestionable integrity, competence, and independence to inquire into the matters raised in the petition.
She requested to the Ministry to determine whether the existing assessment and moderation framework provided adequate safeguards to ensure fairness, consistency, objectivity, transparency, and equal treatment for all candidates, including private schools.
“Investigate whether there exist any systemic, procedural, administrative, or operational deficiencies capable of producing disparities or unintended inequities in the assessment outcomes of candidates from private schools;
Dr Akrofi said the independent body should evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of existing quality assurance, standardization, and oversight mechanisms governing the marking and release of BECE results.
She urged the committee to make findings of fact on the matters investigated and determine whether any reforms were required to strengthen public confidence in the integrity, credibility, and impartiality of the BECE assessment process.
“The Petitioners further undertake to make themselves available before the Committee to provide oral and documentary evidence in support of the petition and to cooperate fully in the discharge of its mandate,” he said.
Obenfo Gyetua said “The petitioners wish to state that they are in possession of relevant documentary and empirical evidence in support of the concerns raised in this Petition.”
He expressed optimism that the review committee undertaken in the national interest would strengthen public confidence in Ghana’s educational assessment framework.
It will also reinforce the constitutional recognition of private education, protect the legitimate expectations of learners and parents, and further enhance the credibility of the West African Examinations Council and Ghana’s national examination system.
He said article 25(2) of the 1992 Constitution guaranteed the right of every person to establish and maintain private schools and other private educational institutions, subject to conditions and standards prescribed by law.
The constitutional recognition accorded to private education, he said, was not merely a right to establish schools but guaranteed that learners enrolled in duly approved private schools were entitled to equal recognition, equal treatment, and equal protection of the law.
Dr Apaak commended the petitioners for engaging in a civil way of expression, their displeasure devoid of any untoward situations, urging others to follow suit.
He assured the petitioners that their concerns would reach the sector Minister pledging to do the needful in an open and transparent manner to improve education in the country.
“We believed that every Ghanaian child, regardless of status or whether in public or private schools, deserves fairness and equity because the government cannot shoulder the burden of education alone.
“We have reached out to the private schools by including them in all activities and programmes including board and council members of agencies under the Ministry,” he said.
GNA