The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed tertiary institutions to stop making entrance examinations a compulsory requirement for admission.
The Commission said admissions must be based on approved minimum entry requirements, with West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results serving as the main qualification for prospective students.
GTEC explained that some tertiary institutions have introduced entrance examinations as a condition for admission, a practice it believes affects the national admissions framework and reduces equal access to tertiary education.
Entrance exams cannot replace WASSCE requirements
In a statement issued under its mandate from the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), GTEC reminded tertiary institutions that it is responsible for setting and implementing policies on admission criteria and requirements.
The Commission clarified that entrance examinations can only be used in specific situations as an additional assessment tool.
However, such examinations must not replace or override the minimum entry requirements determined by WASSCE results.
“Entrance examinations shall only be used as an additional component to the prescribed requirements, based on competitiveness and not as a prerequisite that overrides the WASSCE-based minimum entry requirements,” GTEC stated.
Institutions directed to withdraw notices
GTEC has therefore instructed heads of tertiary institutions that have introduced, or plan to introduce, admission notices requiring compulsory entrance examinations to withdraw those notices.
The institutions have also been directed to align their admission procedures with the approved regulatory framework.
The Commission stressed that compliance with national admission guidelines is necessary to promote fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for students seeking tertiary education.
