CATEGORY: Local news
Dr. Clement Apaak, a Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, has criticized President Akufo-Addo for contrasting the 2016 West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results with the 2022 figures.
Representing Builsa South constituents, Dr. Apaak called the president’s comparison intellectually misleading.
President Akufo-Addo argued that the quality of Senior High School education remained consistent, despite higher enrollment rates due to the free SHS policy. He cited that 51.6% of students scored between A1 and C6 in English in the 2016 WASSCE, while in 2022, the percentage increased to 60.39%.
During the 61st Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools in Accra, he presented further comparisons, noting significant improvements in subjects like Mathematics and Social Studies between 2016 and 2022.
Dr. Apaak raised concerns regarding the recent comparison of examination results. He highlighted that due to the global pandemic, COVID-19, Ghana opted for its own educational assessment system, transitioning from the regional West African Examination Council’s WASSCE to the locally administered Ghana Senior School Certificate Examination (GHASSCE). This significant shift, according to him, makes any direct comparison between the two exams inappropriate and potentially misleading.
Dr. Apaak underscored the importance of comparing like with like, analogizing it to contrasting apples with oranges. He firmly believes that for an accurate and equitable evaluation, Ghana should consider returning to the WASSCE framework in 2024. “Drawing parallels between GHASSCE and WASSCE results, especially from different years, is not a true reflection of the academic landscape. We adjusted our examination approach in response to the pandemic, so it’s essential to understand that 2022’s GHASSCE metrics can’t be directly juxtaposed with 2016’s WASSCE outcomes,” he elaborated.
SOURCE: GHANAWEB
DESCRIPTION: Dr. Clement Apaak, a prominent lawmaker, criticizes President Akufo-Addo’s comparison of 2016 WASSCE results to 2022 GHASSCE scores, calling it “intellectually dishonest.” He urges a return to WASSCE for a genuine comparison in 2024.
KEYWORDS: Dr. Clement Apaak, President Akufo-Addo, WASSCE, GHASSCE, education comparison, 2016 results, 2022 scores, intellectually dishonest, examination, Ghana education, COVID-19, sub-regional body, examination council, 2024 comparison
