GTEC Directs Tertiary Institutions to End Mandatory Entrance Exams for Admission

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed all tertiary institutions to stop making entrance examinations a compulsory requirement for admission, reaffirming that admissions must be based on the approved national minimum entry requirements.

According to GTEC, the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) remains the primary qualification for admission into tertiary institutions. The Commission expressed concern that some institutions have introduced mandatory entrance examinations, a practice it says undermines the national admissions framework and restricts equitable access to higher education.

In a statement issued under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), GTEC reminded institutions that it is mandated to regulate admission policies and ensure compliance with nationally approved criteria.

The Commission clarified that while entrance examinations may be conducted in highly competitive programmes, they should only serve as an additional assessment tool and must not replace or override the minimum WASSCE-based entry requirements.

GTEC has therefore instructed institutions that have issued admission notices making entrance examinations compulsory to withdraw them and align their admission processes with the approved regulatory framework.

The Commission said the directive is intended to promote fairness, transparency and equal access to tertiary education for all qualified applicants.