WAEC blames poor reading habits, weak grammar for decline in 2026 WASSCE English results

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has identified grammar weaknesses, poor reading habits, and informal language influences as key factors behind a decline in English Language performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The pass rate for English decreased from 69% in 2025 to 62.40% in 2026.

Head of Public Affairs at WAEC Ghana, John Kapi, revealed these issues during an interview on Joy FM Super Morning Show. The Chief Examiner's report emphasized candidates' poor grammar control and expression challenges, alongside frequent orthographic errors and inconsistencies in punctuation. Beyond grammatical mistakes, examiners pinpointed significant deficiencies in reading comprehension and analytical skills, indicating many students fail to grasp and analyze assigned reading passages.

This decline is attributed to a deteriorating reading culture among youth, who lack consistent exposure to literature. Educators argue that regular text interaction is crucial for language acquisition, as it expands vocabulary and sentence structure. Informal digital communication, including internet slang and Pidgin English, also infiltrates formal assessments, presenting further challenges for students.

Experts agree that addressing these systemic issues demands a collaborative effort from educators, learners, and supportive environments to uphold standard linguistic practices for educational excellence.