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The release of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results has triggered widespread concern, with the Ghana Education Service (GES) calling for serious policy conversations to address what it describes as deep-rooted systemic failures within the country’s education sector.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Monday, December 1, GES Public Relations Officer Daniel Fenyi said the results present a sobering reality about the state of teaching and learning in Ghana, adding that the issues go far beyond individual learner performance.
“Even if we are saying the result is the true reflection of the learners, it is a worrying situation,” Fenyi stressed.
“Imagine after taking your child to school for three years, and they come back with such results. It means there is much more to discuss about the quality of education in this country.”
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Fenyi noted that the outcome provides critical data for policymakers, the GES, and stakeholders, emphasising the need for serious policy intervention.
“The results provide data for policymakers and the GES, showing that more work is needed if we want these results to improve.”
The 2025 WASSCE has been marred by one of the highest incidences of examination malpractice in recent years.
According to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC):
- 6,295 candidates had some subject results cancelled for bringing unauthorised materials such as prepared notes, printed sheets, and textbooks into examination halls.
- 653 candidates had all results cancelled for using mobile phones during the exams.
- 1,066 candidates remain under investigation for various suspected offences.
- 185 schools have their subject results withheld over alleged widespread collusion.
The scale of malpractice has intensified fears that the increasing pressure to excel is pushing students and, in some cases, teachers and invigilators into unethical behaviour, thereby undermining the validity and credibility of the national assessment.
One of the most troubling indicators from the 2025 results is the steep decline in core mathematics performance.
- In 2024, 305,132 candidates obtained grades A1–C6.
- In 2025, the number dropped drastically to 209,068, representing a decline of over 96,000 passes.
- With a pass rate of 48.73%, more than half of the candidates failed to meet the minimum university entry requirement.
Education analysts warn that this trend could hinder transition rates to tertiary institutions and affect Ghana’s workforce quality in the long term, especially in STEM-related fields.
Fenyi also used the platform to dispel rumours about the cancellation of the Extra Classes Allowance and other teacher-related benefits, assuring educators that no such decision had been taken.
He emphasised that improving teacher motivation remains a priority for the GES:
“Nothing has been cancelled. Management continues to work with the relevant bodies to improve teacher welfare.”
The GES says the 2025 results cannot be treated as an ordinary annual outcome but must serve as a wake-up call for the education sector.
Fenyi noted that the data clearly shows that Ghana needs a comprehensive, multi-layered approach—covering curriculum enhancement, teacher development, infrastructure, discipline, and assessment reforms—to reverse the trend.
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