Climax TV
Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for an urgent national dialogue on Ghana’s education system, citing recent WASSCE and BECE outcomes as signs of challenges that could affect thousands of young people.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday, September 9, the lawmaker expressed concern over the latest West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results, particularly the performance of candidates in Core Mathematics and English Language.
Citing figures indicating that 183,233 candidates completed secondary school without a credit in Core Mathematics, while the credit pass rate in English Language fell to 62.40%, Mr Afenyo-Markin described the results as a matter of national concern.
He said the performance in both subjects remained below the levels recorded in 2024 and called for urgent steps to address what he described as persistent challenges within the education sector.
Concerns over BECE placement
Mr Afenyo-Markin also raised concerns over the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) school placement process.
He claimed that 54,985 candidates were initially denied automatic placement, while reports of students being assigned to special schools despite not requiring such facilities, as well as students arriving at their assigned schools only to find that there was no space, required immediate attention.
He questioned the situation in light of government figures indicating 859,828 vacancies for 623,072 candidates, arguing that the availability of vacancies on paper must translate into actual school placements.
“A self-placement portal is not a school place; every child needs an actual seat in a functioning classroom,” he said.
The Minority Leader warned that, based on the figures he cited, more than 200,000 young Ghanaians could be at risk of being left behind at different stages of the secondary education system.
Calls for intervention
Mr Afenyo-Markin called on the government to publish the final placement outcomes and clarify the rules and pass marks applied in the placement process.
He also urged the government to adequately fund teaching and remedial programmes and provide alternative pathways into technical and vocational education and training (TVET), apprenticeships and skills development for students who do not obtain the required WASSCE credits.
He further called on the Mahama administration to treat the situation as a national crisis requiring both immediate intervention and long-term solutions.
According to him, Ghana needs an “honest and non-partisan” discussion on educational funding, teaching quality, instructional contact hours, teacher motivation, learning materials, infrastructure and supervision.
“This must rise above partisan excuses because the future of an entire generation is at stake,” he stressed.
Defence of previous NPP policies
The Minority Leader also defended education policies introduced under the previous NPP administration, including the expansion of Free Senior High School (Free SHS), Free TVET, apprenticeship and skills development opportunities.
He argued that the interventions were intended to ensure that poverty or examination results did not permanently deny young people opportunities for further education or skills development.
Mr Afenyo-Markin urged the government to act immediately, saying the 54,985 BECE candidates need actual school places, while the 183,233 WASSCE candidates who did not obtain a credit in Core Mathematics need opportunities to improve their prospects.
“Parents are worried, children are anxious, and teachers are under pressure,” he said.
He warned that failure to address the challenges confronting the education system could have long-term consequences for the country.
“When the education system is in crisis, Ghana’s future is also at risk,” he added.
WE NEED A CRITICAL NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON EDUCATION
The latest WAEC results must concern every Ghanaian. They show that the future of our children are under serious threat.
Some 183,233 young people completed secondary school without a credit in Core Mathematics, while the credit pass rate in English Language fell to 62.40%, its lowest level in four years. Performance in both subjects remains below the levels recorded in 2024.
At the same time, nearly 55,000 BECE candidates were initially denied automatic placement. We are hearing reports of children wrongly placed in special schools and others arriving at their assigned schools only to find no space.
Yet government’s own figures show 859,828 vacancies for 623,072 candidates, while 85 private schools participating in Free SHS also have capacity. A self-placement portal is not a school place; every child needs an actual seat in a functioning classroom.
More than 200,000 young Ghanaians are therefore at risk of being left behind at both ends of the secondary-school system.
Government must stop reacting only when problems become public.
It must publish the final placement outcomes, explain the rules and pass marks applied, properly fund teaching and remedial programmes, and provide clear pathways into TVET, apprenticeships and skills training for those who did not obtain the required WASSCE credits.
Mahama government is expected to treat this as a major national crisis requiring immediate action and lasting solutions.
Ghana urgently needs an honest national conversation about educational funding, teaching quality, contact hours, teacher motivation, learning materials, infrastructure and supervision.
This must rise above partisan excuses because the future of an entire generation is at stake.
The NPP expanded access through Free SHS and created Free TVET, apprenticeship and skills-development opportunities because we believe no Ghanaian child should be denied a future by poverty or one set of examination results.
The 54,985 BECE candidates need real school places; the 183,233 WASSCE graduates need a second chance.
Mr President, parents are worried, children are anxious and teachers are under pressure.
When our children’s education is in crisis, Ghana’s future is in danger. The time to act is now
