{
  "id": 6128099,
  "title": "WAEC urges revival of reading culture, better teacher training to improve English",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/waec-urges-revival-of-reading-culture-better-teacher-training-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-07T10:04:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/waec-urges-revival-of-reading-culture-better-teacher-training-to-improve-english/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has called for a renewed emphasis on reading among students and improved teacher training to address declining performance in the English Language within Ghanaian schools. John Kapi, the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC Ghana, made these remarks while appearing on the Joy FM Super Morning Show on September 7th.\n\nKapi emphasized the importance of regular reading in helping students build their vocabulary, refine their sentence construction skills, and enhance their ability to comprehend and analyze texts. He noted that the absence of a robust reading culture was a key factor contributing to students' struggles in the English Language. According to Kapi, \"Reading is one of the major areas where you can pick up language, whether you like it or not.\"\n\nTo foster a reading culture, Kapi suggested that schools could incorporate regular reading exercises into their curricula. These exercises could involve writing summaries of the texts students read, enabling teachers to assess students' reading habits while providing them with consistent practice in expressing themselves in English. Kapi highlighted that as students engage in these exercises, they would progressively strengthen their language skills.\n\nKapi also stressed the crucial role of teacher training in improving English Language performance. He argued that improving English Language performance required more than just teachers' native proficiency in the language. Effective language teaching, he explained, necessitates a deeper understanding of the language rules and their practical application. Kapi urged for stronger teacher preparation, particularly in grammar, to ensure that students learn how to apply language rules rather than merely memorizing them.\n\nAddressing the performance decline, Kapi pointed to the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, where the pass rate in English Language declined from 69% in 2025 to 62.40% in 2026. The Chief Examiner’s report identified weaknesses in grammar, expression, spelling, and students' ability to understand and analyze texts. Kapi stressed that tackling these challenges necessitates a collective effort involving students, teachers, and schools, with a renewed focus on reading and the practical use of the English language.",
  "summary": "The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has called for a renewed reading culture among students and stronger training for teachers as part of efforts to improve English Language performance in Ghanaian schools.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}