WAEC admits more study needed into fluctuating core subject performance

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has acknowledged the need for further studies to comprehend the fluctuations in core subject performance seen in the latest WASSCE results. This admission follows a notable shift in candidates' achievements across key subjects, with Mathematics showing significant improvement while English Language experienced a decline.

John Kapi, Director of Public Affairs at WAEC, revealed the Council's assessment primarily relies on reports from its chief examiners. According to his statement on Joy News' PM Express, English Language performance has been on a steady decline from 2023 to 2026. Other core subjects, including Mathematics, Inter-Science, and Social Studies, are also fluctuating. Last year, Social Studies saw a substantial drop in performance.

Mr. Kapi emphasized that Social Studies has traditionally been one of the highest-performing core subjects in the WASSCE. He stressed that recurring weaknesses in core subjects necessitate a closer examination of how students are prepared for the examination. The chief examiners' reports have identified several basic deficiencies among candidates, particularly in English Language, which are skills expected to be mastered from basic to senior high school levels.

Mr. Kapi highlighted that the summary passage in English Language testing differs significantly from earlier levels and is introduced only at the senior high school level. This technical variation is the only notable difference in how English is tested at senior high school. He concluded that beyond the usual examination reports, WAEC and education stakeholders should conduct further studies to understand why candidates are not performing well in these subjects during their senior high school years.