The release of this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results has sparked fresh concerns over the state of education, with 8,090 candidates failing to obtain a credit pass in any subject.
According to figures released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), 20,610 candidates from 170 senior secondary schools registered for the examination this year. The figure represents a 1.78 per cent increase over last year’s 20,248 candidates.
Of the total number of candidates, 7,540 were male while 13,070 were female.
However, only 1,556 candidates obtained credit passes in five or more subjects, including English Language and Mathematics – a key requirement for many further education and employment opportunities.
The results have renewed debate over the quality of teaching and learning in the public education system, which has faced growing concerns over declining standards.
The situation is particularly worrying as an increasing number of parents are reportedly turning to private schools for their children, with concerns that even some officials within the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education have chosen private education for their children.
Meanwhile, WAEC has withheld the results of 98 candidates from 13 schools over concerns relating to examination malpractice.