The 2025 WASSCE Results: A Wake-Up Call for Ghana's Educational System

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This year's statistics from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on the WASSCE performance (2025) leave much to be desired. Based on the three-year analysis provided by WAEC, this year's results have seen a major decline, particularly in the core subjects: Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and English Language. The statistics are alarming and reveal a significant challenge in our educational system.

For the 2025 WASSCE, 455,915 candidates sat for the examination. This number excludes 5,821 candidates who registered but could not sit for the exams.

Performance Statistics Over Three Years – Core Subjects

Note: Percentages represent candidates who obtained grades A1-C6 (pass grades)

Analysis of the Results

From the analysis, it is evident that there has been a drastic decline in performance across all core subjects:

Mathematics (Core): The decline is particularly severe, dropping from a 66.86% pass rate in 2024 to 48.73% in 2025—a decrease of over 18 percentage points.

Social Studies: This subject saw a sharp and surprising decline. In 2024, the pass rate was 71.53% (candidates who scored between A1-C6). In 2025, the pass rate reduced to 55.82%, with 122,449 candidates scoring F9, representing 27.50%—making it the worst performance in a decade.

English Language and Integrated Science: Both subjects also experienced significant drops, with pass rates falling by approximately 10 percentage points each.

What Could Be the Reason for This Poor Performance?

The Issue of Examination Malpractice

Examinations at both the basic and senior high school levels have, in recent times, been marred by numerous irregularities. There have been reported instances of:

• Teachers assisting candidates with answers to examination questions
• Candidates carrying mobile phones and pre-solved answers into examination halls
• Leakage of examination questions prior to the examinations

WAEC has, in recent times, suffered public backlash, with their credibility questioned regarding the organization of examinations and how candidates and supervisors (invigilators, teachers) have been able to collaborate and cheat their way through the system.

WAEC's Response: Strengthened Monitoring

For the 2025 WASSCE examination, WAEC strengthened their monitoring machinery. According to available reports:

• The results of 6,295 candidates were canceled for possessing foreign materials such as leaked questions and textbooks in the examination hall
• 35 persons, including 19 teachers, have been convicted and sentenced to fines or terms of imprisonment

A True Reflection of Reality

The strict supervision by WAEC officials undoubtedly contributed to this year's performance statistics. Therefore, the 2025 performance can be considered the true performance of candidates, devoid of any external support, foreign materials, or leaked examination questions.

Conclusion: A Blessing in Disguise

I do not view this as simply a poor performance; rather, I see it as an actual reflection of the reality we have been concealing for far too long. This outcome will inform policymakers about the appropriate interventions needed for our senior high school students who, on many occasions, have resorted to assistance and other dubious means to pass their examinations.

The rot actually begins at the basic level, and it would be more prudent for WAEC and the Ministry of Education to direct attention to that foundational stage. The 2025 results serve as a wake-up call for all stakeholders in Ghana's educational system—teachers, parents, school administrators, and policymakers—to address the underlying issues affecting teaching and learning in our schools.

Only by confronting this reality can we begin to implement genuine reforms that will improve educational outcomes and restore integrity to our examination system.

The author, Alpha Osei Amoako, is a social commentator and an educationist with a special interest in educational leadership.

Email: [email protected]