The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called on parents, candidates and other education stakeholders to remain calm following the release of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.

It urges those with concerns to seek clarification through the appropriate channels rather than making allegations against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The Association said while concerns over the results were understandable, they should be addressed through formal petitions to WAEC rather than public speculation or unverified claims.

GNAT also appealed to WAEC to provide a comprehensive explanation of the processes it followed in determining the examination results to improve public confidence and understanding.

“For us to have a better understanding of the results, I think WAEC will have to explain the processes they normally go through, or the processes that they went through in arriving at this particular conclusion,” the Association said.

The teacher union further cautioned against placing excessive pressure on candidates, warning that portraying examinations as a matter of life and death could have serious emotional and psychological consequences for children.

“Examination is gradually becoming like a do-or-die affair, and I think that we must be careful. Look, if these things are not managed, these children might not be able to manage their emotions. This can even lead to some of them committing suicide, some of them having health complications and all that,” it said.

It therefore urged parents, commentators and education stakeholders to be measured in their reactions whenever examination results are released, stressing that children are often affected by the emotions displayed by adults.

“So, as parents, stakeholders, commentators and all the people within this particular space, when the results come, let us be measured,” it added.

The General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Tanko Musah, made the remarks in an interview with TV3 on Wednesday, August 5, in which he encouraged dissatisfied candidates and parents to submit their concerns directly to WAEC rather than resorting to public accusations.

He also observed that, in some cases, adults appear more distressed than the candidates themselves, warning that such reactions could negatively influence the emotional well-being of children.

“Some people are even more anxious, more aggressive than the children. When the children see you behaving that way, the kind of energy you unleash will negatively affect them. So, we have to be measured in our pronouncements,” he advised.