Conference of Heads of Basic Schools Warns Against Unqualified BECE Registrations

The Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS) is urging government to halt the growing practice of “education contractors” registering unqualified students to write the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). 

According to COHBS leaders, including Mr. Musah Adam and Mr. Abdul Wahab Adam Hamid, these contractors target rural schools with weak supervision and sometimes collaborate with head teachers. They warn that the practice threatens the quality of Ghana’s education.

At a COHBS conference in the Upper East Region, another concern raised was that many public-school teachers send their children to private schools—an act educationist Prof. Ephraim Avea Nsor says undermines confidence in public education. He criticized teachers for prioritizing private institutions despite teaching in public schools.

COHBS agreed with Prof. Nsor’s concerns and encouraged teachers to enroll their children in public schools. However, they also urged government to invest in infrastructure, resources, and teacher motivation to make public schools more competitive. The conference brought together school heads from across the region to discuss ways to improve basic school management and performance.