Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin is calling for an urgent national dialogue on Ghana’s education system, warning that recent WASSCE and BECE results point to challenges that could have serious implications for thousands of young people.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Mr Afenyo-Markin expressed concern about the latest results released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), particularly the performance of candidates in Core Mathematics and English Language.
He cited figures showing that 183,233 candidates completed secondary school without obtaining a credit in Core Mathematics, while the credit pass rate in English Language dropped to 62.40%, which he described as the lowest recorded in four years.
According to the Minority Leader, performance in both subjects also remains below the levels recorded in 2024, a trend he said should be a matter of concern for the entire country.
Concerns over BECE placement
Mr Afenyo-Markin also expressed concern about the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) school placement process.
He claimed that 54,985 candidates were initially not granted automatic placement, while reports of students being assigned to special schools despite not requiring such facilities, as well as students reporting to schools only to find that there was no space, needed urgent attention.
He questioned the situation in light of government figures indicating that 859,828 vacancies were available for 623,072 candidates. He argued that the availability of vacancies on paper must translate into actual places for students in schools.
“A self-placement portal is not a school place; every child needs an actual seat in a functioning classroom,” he said.
The Minority Leader warned that, based on the figures he cited, more than 200,000 young Ghanaians could potentially be left behind at various stages of the secondary education system.
Calls for intervention
Mr Afenyo-Markin has called on the government to publish the final placement outcomes and provide clarity on the rules and pass marks guiding the placement process.
He also urged the government to increase funding for teaching and remedial programmes while creating alternative pathways into technical and vocational education and training (TVET), apprenticeships and skills development for students who do not secure the required WASSCE credits.
He further urged the Mahama administration to treat the situation as a national crisis requiring immediate action as well as long-term reforms.
According to Mr Afenyo-Markin, Ghana needs an “honest and non-partisan” national discussion on key issues affecting education, including funding, teaching quality, instructional contact hours, teacher motivation, learning materials, infrastructure and effective supervision.
“This must rise above partisan excuses because the future of an entire generation is at stake,” he stressed.
Defence of previous NPP policies
The Minority Leader also defended education policies introduced under the previous NPP administration, including the expansion of Free Senior High School (Free SHS), Free TVET, apprenticeships and skills-development programmes.
He argued that the interventions were designed to ensure that poverty or poor examination results would not permanently limit young people’s access to further education, vocational training or skills-development opportunities.
Mr Afenyo-Markin urged the government to act immediately, saying the 54,985 BECE candidates need actual school places, while the 183,233 WASSCE candidates who did not obtain a credit in Core Mathematics need opportunities to improve their prospects.
“Parents are worried, children are anxious, and teachers are under pressure,” he said.
He warned that failure to address the challenges confronting the education system could have long-term consequences for the country.
“When the education system is in crisis, Ghana’s future is also at risk,” he added.