WASSCE 2025 Crisis: Worst Results in 5 Years Spark National Debate on Free SHS
Introduction Ghana's educational landscape is facing a severe reckoning as the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results reveal the worst performance in half a decade. With catastrophic failure rates of over 50% in Core Mathematics and alarming numbers across other essential subjects, the outcomes have ignited a fierce national debate, casting a long shadow over the government's flagship Free SHS policy and demanding urgent answers about what went wrong. The Numbers Tell a Stark Story The statistics released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) paint a disturbing picture of systemic underperformance. Core Mathematics Collapse: A staggering 220,008 students, representing 50.54% of candidates, failed to achieve a passing grade in the fundamental subject of Mathematics. English Language Deficiency: 131,097 students (30.27%) failed English Language, raising concerns about foundational communication skills. Science and Social Studi...