Education specialist Divine Kpe has called for the merger of Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) into a single, uninterrupted cycle under the proposed Free SHS Bill.
Speaking to ABC News Ghana, Mr. Kpe emphasized that the current separation, marked by the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), imposes unnecessary psychological and academic pressure on students.
“Coupling JHS and SHS into one continuous basic education cycle would be more beneficial for student development,” he said, urging policymakers to prioritize the long-term educational and developmental needs of learners.
Mr. Kpe also criticized the BECE’s current function, stating that it has lost its original intent as a certification tool.
“The examination no longer serves to assess and certify the competencies of students at the basic education level, but has instead become a routine requirement for school placement,” he noted.
He advocated for a restructuring of the BECE to align it more closely with meaningful educational outcomes and the evolving demands of today’s learning environment.
