WASSCE, BECE outcomes threaten future of over 200,000 students – Osahen Afenyo-Markin

Minority Leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for an urgent national conversation on Ghana’s education system following concerns over the latest WASSCE and BECE outcomes.

His call follows the release of the 2026 WASSCE results by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), which showed a decline in English Language performance, although results in Core Mathematics, Integrated Science and Social Studies improved compared to 2025.

WAEC reported that 62.40% of candidates obtained A1-C6 in English Language, down from 69% in 2025, while 60.75% obtained A1-C6 in Core Mathematics, an improvement from 48.73% in 2025.

In a social media post on Wednesday, September 9, Osahen Afenyo-Markin said the results should concern every Ghanaian.

He noted that more than 180,000 young people who completed secondary school without a credit in Core Mathematics risk being left behind.

He also raised concerns over the ongoing 2026 Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) exercise, particularly the number of BECE candidates who were not automatically placed in second-cycle institutions.

“Some 183,233 young people completed secondary school without a credit in Core Mathematics, while the credit pass rate in English Language fell to 62.40%, its lowest level in four years,” he said.

The Minority Leader said the situation, coupled with challenges surrounding BECE placement, meant that more than 200,000 young Ghanaians could be at risk of being left behind at different stages of the secondary education system.

His comments come after the Education Ministry announced that 527,932 of the 604,567 candidates who qualified for placement had been automatically placed in senior high schools, senior high technical schools and technical and vocational institutions.

Government has since opened the self-placement system for affected candidates, including those who obtained a grade nine in English Language or Mathematics.

Osahen Afenyo-Markin, however, argued that providing access to a self-placement portal alone does not resolve the concerns facing affected candidates.

“A self-placement portal is not a school place; every child needs an actual seat in a functioning classroom,” he said.

He called on the government to publish the final placement outcomes and explain the rules and pass marks applied in the process.