GNAT Urges Calm Over 2026 BECE Results, Advises Dissatisfied Candidates to Petition WAEC
The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has appealed to parents, candidates and the general public to remain calm following the release of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results, urging those with concerns to follow the appropriate channels by petitioning the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
The Association cautioned against making unverified allegations or engaging in public speculation about the credibility of the results, stressing that any grievances should be formally presented to WAEC for review and clarification.
According to GNAT, while it appreciates the anxiety and disappointment that may accompany examination outcomes, the integrity of the examination process should not be questioned without evidence.
The teacher union also called on WAEC to provide a detailed explanation of the procedures and assessment processes used in arriving at the 2026 BECE results. It said greater transparency would help improve public understanding, strengthen confidence in the examination system and address concerns raised by candidates and parents.
“For us to have a better understanding of the results, I think WAEC will have to explain the processes they normally go through, or the processes that they went through in arriving at this particular conclusion,” the Association stated.
Beyond the concerns surrounding the results, GNAT expressed worry about the increasing pressure placed on candidates, warning that examinations are gradually being treated as a “do-or-die” affair.
The Association said such intense expectations could have serious emotional and psychological consequences for young learners, including anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges.
“Examination is gradually becoming like a do-or-die affair, and I think that we must be careful. Look, if these things are not managed, these children might not be able to manage their emotions. This can even lead to some of them committing suicide, some of them having health complications and all that,” GNAT warned.
The Association therefore urged parents, teachers, education stakeholders, media commentators and the general public to exercise restraint whenever examination results are released, noting that children often take emotional cues from the reactions of adults around them.
“So, as parents, stakeholders, commentators and all the people within this particular space, when the results come, let us be measured,” it added.
GNAT General Secretary Thomas Tanko Musah made the remarks during an interview with TV3 on Wednesday, August 5, where he encouraged dissatisfied candidates and their parents to submit formal petitions to WAEC instead of resorting to accusations on social media or in the public domain.
Mr Tanko Musah observed that, in many instances, parents and guardians appear more distressed than the candidates themselves, warning that such reactions can heighten children’s anxiety and negatively affect their emotional well-being.
“Some people are even more anxious, more aggressive than the children. When the children see you behaving that way, the kind of energy you unleash will negatively affect them. So, we have to be measured in our pronouncements,” he advised.
GNAT maintained that protecting the emotional well-being of candidates should remain a priority while ensuring that any legitimate concerns about the examination results are addressed through the appropriate institutional processes.
