By Francis Kobena Tandoh
The performance of candidates in three core subjects in the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is fluctuating, according to provisional results released by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
Statistics provided by the examination body indicate that the performance in mathematics dropped by nearly a 20-percentage dip.
In 2024, 66.86% obtained the grades (A1–C6) in mathematics; however, in 2025, the performance fell to 48.73%, indicating that more than 114,000 students scored F9.
The performance of integrated science is also declining backward: 66.82% in 2023, 58.77% in 2024, and 57.74% in 2025, an affirmation that the foundation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is not on a sound footing.
What is more worrying in this year’s WASSCE results is that of Social Studies, a subject supposed to develop critical thinking among students. The performance of candidates in the subject has been falling over the years: 76.76% in 2023, 71.53% in 2024, and 55.82% in 2025.
The performance has got well-meaning members of the public to express their opinion, calling for something drastic to be done to save the situation.
“These numbers suggest something fundamental is not working in the way we are educating our children. When Mathematics collapses by nearly 20 points in one year, when Science keeps sliding backward, and when Social Studies loses more than 20 points in two years, it is not the students who have failed—it is the system that is failing them,” said Kwaku Azar.
The WAEC released provisional results of the WASSCE for school candidates late Saturday.
A total of 461,736 candidates, made up of 207,415 males and 254,321 females from 1,021 schools, registered for the 2025 WASSCE. The figure is a 0.24 percent increase over the 2024 entry figure of 460,611.
Also, a total of 5,821 candidates, representing 1.26 percent, were absent from the examination.
According to a breakdown of the core subjects as released by WAEC, a total of 289,673, or 69 percent, obtained Grades A1-C6 in English Language, with 209,068, or 48.73 percent, obtaining Grades A1-C6 in Mathematics.
A total of 220,806, or 57.74 percent, and 248,538, or 55.82 percent, obtained grades A1-C6 in integrated science and social studies, respectively. End item
Source: Ghana Eye Report
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