Final-year Junior High School (JHS) students across the country will encounter three new subjects in the upcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for School Candidates.
These newly introduced subjects are Career Technology, Creative Art and Design, and Arabic. Career Technology and Creative Art and Design, derived from the former Basic Design and Technology (BDT) course, will be compulsory for all candidates, as stated by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
However, Arabic will be an elective subject for candidates attending Islamic basic schools.
Extended Examination Duration
Due to the inclusion of these new subjects, the 2024 examination period has been extended to six days from the previous five.
The examination will commence on Monday, July 8, 2024, and conclude on the following Monday, July 15, 2024.
Providing further details on the 2024 examination, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, informed the Daily Graphic that new subjects could be introduced at any time, as the BECE is uniquely Ghanaian, allowing the government to determine the curriculum content.
Mr. Kapi mentioned that candidate registration had recently concluded, and WAEC was now finalizing the breakdown of candidates writing each subject. He assured that WAEC was fully prepared for the examination, with all related meetings concluded and sample questions distributed to schools and posted on the council’s website.
Regarding Arabic, Mr. Kapi noted that this was the first time the subject would be examined at the BECE. He described Arabic as an elective subject, available for candidates who felt proficient in it and sought certification.
Timetable
According to the official timetable released by WAEC, English Language and Religious and Moral Education will be written on Monday, July 8, 2024. On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, candidates will sit for Science and Computing, previously known as Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), followed by Social Studies and Creative Art and Design on Wednesday.
Mathematics and Ghanaian Language examinations are scheduled for Thursday, July 11, 2024, while French and Career Technology will take place on Friday, July 12, 2024.
Arabic will be examined on Monday, July 15, 2024.
Before the BECE registration, the Ghana Education Service outlined the mandatory subjects as English Language, Mathematics, General Science, Social Studies, Religious and Moral Education, Career Technology, and Creative Art and Design.
Ghanaian languages were categorized as elective subjects, with French, Arabic, and Computing listed as optional subjects.
Curriculum
This year’s BECE candidates will be the first cohort to sit the examination under the Common Core Curriculum. Consequently, WAEC stated that school and private candidates would be assessed differently due to the curriculum’s implementation.
The curriculum aims to enhance learning experiences and shift learners from rote learning to acquiring critical learning skills.