More than 600,000 candidates are set to write the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) starting Monday, 4 May 2026. Persistent power outages — the dumsor that has dogged the country since the Akosombo substation fire — are interrupting final preparations for an entire generation of pupils.
The Numbers
- 600,000+ registered candidates
- Exam window opens Monday 4 May 2026
- BECE is the gateway exam to senior high school placement
- Run by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)
The Power Problem
- Persistent outages following the Akosombo substation fire on 1 May
- GRIDCo restoration is in progress but not yet stable
- Candidates report study disruption — losing evening prep hours to load-shedding
- Communities relying on candle-light + phone-torch revision
The Stakes
BECE results determine senior high school placement under the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS). A weakened cohort feeds straight into the SHS pipeline. The Ministry of Education and WAEC have not signalled any contingency on the schedule.
What Comes Next
- Watch for: GRIDCo’s Sunday-evening grid stability update
- Any contingency communication from WAEC / Ministry of Education
- Centre-level reports of disrupted-prep impact on early-week paper performance
- Civil-society calls for examination-time grid prioritisation
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