The Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) will commence the 2026 May-June Certificate II and traditional Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) examinations on Monday, May 18, marking the first time all institutions across the country will sit for a single harmonised examination.

Announcing the schedule at a press briefing on May 13, the Director-General of CTVET, Zakaria Sulemana, said the initiative forms part of Ghana’s efforts to build a competent, innovative, skilled, and industry-ready workforce under President John Mahama’s TVET transformation agenda.

According to him, candidates will write core subject papers from May 18 to May 25, while elective papers will be conducted from May 28 to June 12, 2026.

Mr. Sulemana explained that candidates from the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), Technical Examinations Unit (TEU), and the former National Professional and Technical Examinations Board (NAPTEX) will now write the same examinations at common centres nationwide.

He noted that the harmonised examination system is aimed at standardising assessment and improving the quality and credibility of technical and vocational education in the country.

As part of measures to curb examination malpractice, the Director-General disclosed that six different versions of each examination paper will be administered under an expanded test serialization system, which he said has yielded positive results over the past two years.

A total of 61,506 candidates from 278 public and private institutions have registered for the examinations, representing an 8.6 percent increase over last year’s figure of 55,295 candidates.

Out of the total number, 59,754 candidates will sit for the Certificate II examinations, while 1,752 candidates will write the traditional TVET examinations.

The figure also includes 170 persons with disabilities.

Female participation also recorded a significant increase, rising from 14 percent last year to 26.3 percent this year, with 16,146 female candidates registered for the examinations.

The examinations will be conducted at 169 centres across the country.

Candidates will be examined in four out of six core subjects, including English Language, Integrated Science, Mathematics, and either Social Studies or Entrepreneurship.

Although Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is taught across all institutions, it will not be examined this year.

CTVET has made available 30 elective trade areas covering sectors such as construction, welding, electrical engineering, automotive engineering, fashion, hospitality, catering, and cosmetology.

Mr. Sulemana said the Commission has strengthened supervision, monitoring, secure transportation and storage of examination materials, as well as orientation programmes for supervisors and invigilators.

He warned that any examination official found engaging in negligence, collusion, or facilitating malpractice would face sanctions under Ghanaian law.

The Director-General also urged candidates to avoid leaked examination questions and approach the examinations with honesty, discipline, and confidence.

He stressed that the harmonised examinations remain central to Ghana’s industrialisation and human capital development agenda, with the goal of producing globally competitive graduates equipped with relevant technical and vocational skills.