The Ministry of Education (MOE) has refuted claims that Ghana has pulled out of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), a regional assessment for secondary school leavers.
The ministry issued a press statement on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in response to a video circulating on social media, in which a former president of Ghana allegedly said that the country had withdrawn from the exam since 2016.
The statement, signed by the Public Relations Unit of the MOE, explained that Ghana was still a member of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the body that conducts the WASSCE for five countries: Ghana, Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The statement also highlighted Ghana’s role and achievements in the WAEC, such as hosting its headquarters in Accra, holding the current chairmanship of the council, and producing outstanding candidates who won international awards for their performance in the WASSCE.
The MOE further clarified that Ghana had not changed the standard or content of the WASSCE, but only the timing of the exam, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the academic calendar.
The statement said that Ghana had led the other member countries to reopen schools and sit for the exam at the same time in 2020 and 2021, but had to adjust the schedule in 2022 and 2023, to ensure that students completed the syllabus before taking the exam.
The statement assured students, parents, guardians, and the general public that the quality of education and examinations at all levels, including the WASSCE, would not be compromised.
The MOE’s statement came amid growing concerns about the credibility and validity of the WASSCE, especially after the widespread leakage of exam papers and malpractices in 2020 and 2021.
Some stakeholders, including teachers’ unions, parents’ associations, and civil society groups, have called for a review of the exam system and the introduction of more stringent measures to prevent cheating and ensure fairness.
The WAEC has also faced criticism from some of its member countries, such as Nigeria and Liberia, over delays in the release of results, errors in the grading process, and poor coordination among the national offices.
However, the WAEC has maintained that it is committed to upholding the integrity and quality of the WASSCE, and has taken steps to address the challenges and improve its service delivery.
The WAEC has also announced that it is working on a new curriculum framework and assessment policy for the WASSCE, to align it with the 21st century skills and competencies required for the global market.
The new curriculum and policy are expected to be implemented in 2024, after consultations and validations with the relevant stakeholders in the member countries.
The WASSCE is a high-stakes exam that determines the eligibility and placement of students into tertiary institutions, as well as their career prospects and opportunities.
The exam is also a benchmark for measuring the quality and effectiveness of the secondary education system in the West African sub-region.
Source: Modern Ghana
