Private schools protest 24% BECE fee increase

The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has urged the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to promptly reverse its proposed 24.24% increase in the registration fee for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The fee is projected to increase from GHC282.35 in 2025 to GHC350.82 in 2026, a decision that GNAPS claims jeopardises the educational advancement of numerous candidates in private schools throughout the nation.

In a statement released on Thursday, December 11, 2025, GNAPS called on WAEC to suspend the fee hike and to engage in comprehensive discussions with stakeholders, including the association, to establish a fair and justifiable fee.

The organisation also appealed to the Ministry of Education and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education to step in to safeguard economically disadvantaged children from being excluded from Basic 9 education.

“Swift action is essential to maintain the trust and goodwill of parents, private schools, and the broader education community in the government’s commitment to affordable, accessible, and equitable education,” the statement said.

GNAPS pointed out that while WAEC defended last year’s fee increases by referencing inflation, exchange rates, port charges, and fuel costs, recent national economic indicators have shown signs of stabilisation.

For example, inflation decreased from 8% in October 2025 to 6.3% in November 2025, and the Cedi has remained relatively stable. GNAPS characterised this year’s increase as “economically indefensible” and “punitive”.

The Association also criticised WAEC for neglecting to consult the non-state education sector, whose candidates are disproportionately affected by the fee hikes.

According to GNAPS, such unilateral actions undermine the principles of transparency, collaboration, and sensitivity to the socioeconomic challenges faced by parents and schools.

In the last five years, GNAPS has cautioned that the escalating BECE registration fees have progressively obstructed Junior High School completion rates, especially in lower-income communities.

The Association emphasised that exorbitant fees threaten to compel diligent parents to remove their children from school.

GNAPS reiterated its dedication to safeguarding the educational rights of underprivileged children and conveyed its willingness to collaborate with WAEC, the Ministry of Education, and other stakeholders to reverse the proposed fee hike.