EduWatch and Academic Experts Urge Shift from Grading Debate to Systemic Reform Following WASSCE Performance Decline

Educational stakeholders and experts are calling for a fundamental shift in how Ghana addresses student performance following a concerning decline in English Language results in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Provisional data from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) reveals that the percentage of candidates achieving grades A1 to C6 in English fell to 62.40% in 2026, down from 69% the previous year. While public debate has frequently focused on the fairness of the grading system, prominent voices including Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) and Professor Stephen Adei argue that the focus must instead be placed on declining academic standards and systemic failures within the educational pipeline.

Kofi Asare, Executive Director of EduWatch, has emphasized that the Stanine grading system naturally categorizes students into different performance levels and should not be the primary target of criticism. Instead, he maintains that student failure is a collective responsibility involving teachers, parents, and the government. Asare questioned why students spend an extended period in basic education only to exit without meeting required standards, calling for a broader evaluation of the entire system. This sentiment is echoed by Professor Stephen Adei, former Rector of GIMPA, who asserts that the grading system has remained consistent over the years. Adei suggests that the real issues may lie in weaknesses within the school placement system and a general deterioration of academic rigor, cautioning against blaming a marking process that could simply be simplified rather than overhauled.

Contributing to the analysis of the English Language decline, WAEC Head of Public Affairs John Kapi identified several cultural and instructional factors at play. He pointed to the widespread use of pidgin, poor reading habits, and the influence of informal language on social media as primary drivers of poor grammar and limited exposure to standard English. To combat this, Angel Carbonu, former President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), has urged the government to refocus resources on public basic schools. Carbonu criticized the disproportionate emphasis placed on senior high school education, arguing that a failure to prioritize foundational literacy and numeracy at the primary level inevitably leads to the deteriorating performance seen at the secondary level.

To reverse these trends, stakeholders are advocating for practical, classroom-level interventions rather than administrative policy shifts. Proposed solutions include intensive teacher training in grammar, the formal incorporation of reading assessments into the curriculum, and a renewed focus on foundational education. As the government, currently led by President John Mahama, continues to navigate educational policy, the consensus from experts suggests that unless the root causes of academic underperformance are addressed at the basic level, the cycle of declining WASSCE results is likely to persist.