The Gurene language is expected to be examined for the first time at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 2027. This follows a directive to include the language among subjects available for candidates to register. The Upper East Regional Education Directorate has instructed Municipal and District Directors of Education to prepare schools for teaching and examining the language. The directive was issued in a letter dated September 7, 2026.
According to the Upper East Regional Director of Education, Razak Abdul-Korah, the Director of Schools and Instructions had earlier tasked the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to include Gurene among subjects available for BECE registration. The Regional Education Directorate indicated that candidates sitting the 2027 BECE will be the first cohort to be examined in Gurene. This development addresses a longstanding concern among Gurene-speaking communities.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has developed curriculum and teaching and learning materials to support the teaching of Gurene at different levels of education. Municipal and District Education Directors have been directed to incorporate Gurene into school timetables, rationalise and deploy appropriate teachers, and take other steps necessary for its implementation. This move aims to ensure that schools are adequately prepared for the teaching and examination of Gurene.
The decision to make Gurene an examinable subject was welcomed by some stakeholders, including BONABOTO, which had called for Gurene to be made an examinable subject earlier in 2026. BONABOTO argued that although the language had received recognition from the Ghana Education Service, its examination had not been operationalised. The inclusion of Gurene in the BECE is expected to promote the language and provide students with the opportunity to write it in national examinations.
The Upper East Regional Education Directorate's directive requires education authorities to prepare schools for the implementation of Gurene and ensure they are adequately prepared for its teaching and examination. The letter was copied to the President of the Gurene Language Development Association (GULDA). This move demonstrates the government's commitment to promoting the Gurene language and providing students with a comprehensive education.
The development of curriculum and teaching and learning materials for Gurene is a significant step towards ensuring that students have access to quality education in the language. The inclusion of Gurene in the BECE is also expected to encourage more students to learn the language and appreciate its cultural significance. This move is part of a broader effort to promote Ghanaian languages and culture.
The implementation of Gurene as an examinable subject at the 2027 BECE is a significant milestone for the language and its speakers. Key stakeholders, including the Gurene-speaking communities, education authorities, and language development associations, are expected to work together to ensure the successful implementation of this initiative. Three key points emerge from this development: Gurene will be examined at the 2027 BECE, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed curriculum and teaching materials for the language, and education authorities have been directed to prepare schools for its implementation.
Key points
- Gurene to be examined at 2027 BECE
- NaCCA develops curriculum and teaching materials for Gurene
- Education authorities directed to prepare schools for Gurene implementation
