Primary and secondary education

How is Ghanaian primary and secondary education organised? To which Dutch diplomas can you compare Ghanaian diplomas?

In Ghana, primary education lasts 6 years and is intended for pupils aged 6 to 12.

Secondary education lasts 6 years and consists of 2 phases:

This is the lower secondary education diploma. Students take their final exam via the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) of Ghana. The final exam is called: Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). This completes their compulsory education. In Ghana, the pre-primary education year, primary education and lower secondary education together are called ‘basic education’.

  • Duration: 3 years.
  • Content: 9 exam subjects. There are 7 compulsory exam subjects:
    • English language;
    • Ghanaian language and culture (often indicated as ‘GA’ on the transcript);
    • mathematics;
    • social studies;
    • Information and Communications Technology (ICT);
    • integrated science (a combination of biology, chemistry and physics);
    • religious and moral education.
      In addition, students choose 2 exam subjects:
    • a vocational subject (Basic Design and Technology), such as home economics (B.D.T./home econs) and
    • French.
      On the WAEC website, you can find more information about the BECE exam subjects.
  • Admission requirements: must have concluded primary education.
  • Function of the diploma: access to upper secondary education and secondary vocational education.
  • Diploma: Basic Education Certificate from the WAEC.

We compare a Basic Education Certificate to 2 years of HAVO.

This is the upper secondary education diploma. Students take their final exam via the WAEC, just like in lower secondary education. The final exam is called: West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

  • Duration: 3 years.
  • Content: 7 or 8 exam subjects. There are 4 compulsory exam subjects:
    • English language;
    • integrated science (a combination of biology, chemistry and physics);
    • mathematics; and
    • social studies.
      In addition, students take exams in 3 or 4 electives. These electives fall within one of the following disciplines:
    • business;
    • general agriculture;
    • general (general education subjects);
    • technical;
    • vocational (home economics or visual arts).
      On the WAEC website, you can find more information about the WASSCE subjects.
  • Admission requirements: a Basic Education Certificate.
  • Function of the diploma: access to higher education. Access to secondary vocational education is also possible.
  • Diploma: a West African Senior School Certificate from the WAEC.

We compare a West African Senior School Certificate with a C6 or higher for at least 6 subjects to a HAVO diploma.