The Ministry of Education has introduced a new set of guidelines for selecting schools for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates. These updated guidelines are intended for the 2025 Second Cycle Schools’ selection and sensitisation exercise.

Candidates aspiring to enter Senior High Schools (SHS), Senior High Technical Schools (SHTS), or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are required to choose a total of seven schools.

Out of these seven, five must be main school choices selected from Categories A, B, and C. Additionally, two extra schools are to be chosen as alternatives, in case the candidate is not placed in any of the five primary selections.

When making selections, candidates may choose a maximum of one school from Category A, up to two schools from Category B, while all five main choices may come from Category C.

Candidates must also indicate their preferred academic programmes and residential options, with a maximum of three boarding schools and two day schools among their selections.

The Ministry further indicated that TVET candidates are expected to choose all five main selections from TVET institutions, while STEM candidates may select science or STEM-related options for all five of their main choices.