The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially released the statistics for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for both school and private candidates. The examination is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, June 11 to Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
According to the press release dated June 9, 2025, a total of 603,328 candidates will be sitting for the BECE this year. This marks a 5.99% increase from the 2024 entry figure of 569,236. The gender distribution shows 297,250 males and 306,078 females, highlighting that female candidates slightly outnumber their male counterparts. These students are drawn from 20,395 participating schools, reinforcing the nationwide spread and participation.
For private candidates, 1,661 individuals have registered for the 2025 BECE, made up of 858 males and 803 females. This figure represents a 19.49% rise compared to the 2024 entry total of 1,390, suggesting a growing interest in the private candidate pathway.
The BECE for school candidates will be administered at 2,237 centres across the country, while 15 centres, primarily located in regional capitals, have been designated for private candidates.
Interestingly, the 2025 BECE will mark the final instance in which private candidates are assessed using the old syllabus. Moving forward, all candidates—including private ones—will be examined solely on the core curriculum, aligning assessments uniformly across the board.
WAEC also reiterated its commitment to inclusivity, confirming that reasonable adjustments have been made to accommodate candidates with special educational needs. This ensures that no student is disadvantaged due to disability or learning difficulty.
Additionally, the Council emphasized adherence to its revised Rules and Regulations, which have been in effect since 2023. The revisions address several key issues:
- Inscriptions on the body or clothing
- Posting live exam questions online
- Delayed access for invigilators
- Misconduct by exam officials
- Multiple registrations by candidates in both public and private schools
The public, especially stakeholders and school authorities, have been urged to maintain decorum at examination centres. WAEC has warned that any breach of its regulations will attract serious consequences.
As anticipation builds for the 2025 BECE, these statistics paint a clear picture of growing participation and evolving exam administration. WAEC’s data emphasizes both a steady rise in enrolment and efforts to maintain integrity and fairness in its examination process.
Published By: Justice Donkoh | GESHub.org
