Accra: Persistent power outages are interrupting preparations of candidates sitting for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which begins on Monday, May 4, as students in both public and private schools struggle to study effectively at home.
According to Ghana News Agency, interviews reveal growing anxiety among candidates, many of whom cite frequent evening blackouts that interrupt revision and significantly reduce productive study hours. Some students have resorted to using torchlights and rechargeable lamps to continue learning at night, although these alternatives are often unreliable and uncomfortable.
Miriam Addae Nyarko, a candidate at a public junior high school (JHS), stated that the outages made it difficult to maintain concentration and continuity in learning, particularly when power cuts occurred abruptly during study sessions. She noted that, at times, she forgot what she had studied while waiting for electricity to be restored. Limited lighting resources at home, which had to be shared among family members, forced others to delay or shorten their study periods.
Pamela Dansua, another candidate, mentioned that studying with torchlight strained the eyes and often caused fatigue, while the heat during outages further affected concentration. She added that disrupted sleep patterns were impacting punctuality and attentiveness in school. Kelvin Yahya, also a candidate, expressed concern over the inconvenience, noting that the erratic power supply had negatively affected his readiness for the BECE.
Some candidates have adopted coping strategies such as using candles, rechargeable lamps, or occasionally studying outdoors under natural light. However, they noted that the outages also hindered their ability to charge electronic devices needed for online learning and research.
Teachers have also expressed concern, stating that the situation affects both teaching and learning, as students appear fatigued and less active in class due to disrupted sleep and excessive heat. Ms Nicolina Duku, a teacher at Valley School in Tema New Town, said schools had adjusted by shifting intensive revision sessions to daytime hours and aligning teaching schedules with load-shedding periods. Mr Oman Phillips, a teacher at Sky Educational Institute, noted that although some candidates were placed in supervised study camps, evening preparation had been significantly disrupted, reducing overall study time.
Parents are feeling the impact as well, citing increased financial burdens from purchasing fuel, torchlight, and batteries to support their children's studies. Mrs Faustina Oware, a parent, said she often stayed up late with her child during outages to supervise learning, while another parent, Madam Felicia Kyere, expressed concern over the health implications of studying under poor lighting conditions. They appealed for a more stable power supply or, at the very least, a reliable load-shedding timetable to enable families to plan effectively.
Despite these challenges, some students expressed confidence in their preparedness, attributing it to consistent study habits over time. Meanwhile, the Government has assured the public of a stable power supply following the restoration of full electricity generation capacity at the Akosombo Dam after recent setbacks.