{
  "id": 229897,
  "title": "WAEC dismisses claims of bias against private school BECE candidates",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/waec-dismisses-claims-of-bias-against-private-school-bece-candidates",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-06T16:39:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/waec-dismisses-claims-of-bias-against-private-school-bece-candidates/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has firmly refuted accusations of bias towards private school candidates in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), asserting that its examination procedures are transparent, unbiased, and applied uniformly. This stance came in response to concerns raised by the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS), which questioned the grading practices in the 2026 BECE results and demanded an independent audit following what it claimed were grading irregularities potentially impacting senior high school placements. During a press conference in Accra, John Kapi, Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, explicitly dismissed claims that the Council deliberately assigns lower grades to private school candidates, stating that these allegations are \"false, misleading, and unsupported by evidence.\" Kapi emphasized that WAEC’s assessment and grading processes align with internationally recognized principles of fairness, consistency, objectivity, and integrity. He clarified that all examiners adhere to the same marking schemes and quality assurance protocols, irrespective of whether candidates attend public or private schools. The BECE employs the globally recognized stanine grading system, which evaluates students based on their performance relative to the entire cohort, thereby not favoring any specific school category. When GNAPS requested an independent review of the results, Kapi indicated WAEC’s willingness to conduct such a review, provided it adheres to professional standards and has clearly defined guidelines. He advised stakeholders concerned about specific results to utilize WAEC’s established review and enquiry processes rather than spreading unsubstantiated speculations. The controversy began after GNAPS highlighted widespread inconsistencies in the provisional 2026 BECE results across all 16 regions, alleging discrepancies in the grading process that could affect candidates' placements into senior high schools via the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS). WAEC maintained the credibility of the examination process, noting that rigorous quality control measures are implemented from script marking to result processing. The Council had already released the provisional 2026 BECE results on July 29, canceling the results of 601 candidates for examination malpractice and withholding the results of 167 candidates and 2,722 candidates pending further investigation into suspected irregularities.",
  "summary": "The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has firmly denied allegations that candidates from private schools are disadvantaged in the marking of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), insisting that its assessment procedures are transparent, objective and applied uniformly to every candidate.",
  "key_points": [
    "WAEC denies bias claims against private school BECE candidates.",
    "Exam procedures described as transparent, unbiased, uniformly applied.",
    "WAEC open to independent review if follows professional standards."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Private schools accuse WAEC of ‘unfair marking’, demand independent review of 2026 BECE results",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/private-schools-accuse-waec-of-unfair-marking-demand-independent",
        "published": "2026-08-04T21:18:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "How to check 2026 WAEC results online",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/how-to-check-2026-waec-results-online",
        "published": "2026-08-05T10:35:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}