Mahama Blames Years of Basic Education Neglect for Poor WASSCE Results
President Mahama links poor WASSCE performance to years of neglect in basic education
- Poor WASSCE results linked to neglect of basic education
- Delays in capitation grants and inadequate teacher quality worsened the situation
- Education Ministry instructed to analyze examiners’ report
President John Dramani Mahama has attributed the steep decline in the 2025 WASSCE performance to long-standing neglect of basic education in Ghana.
Speaking at the launch of the STEMBox initiative for primary schools, he said the poor results highlight weaknesses in foundational learning, exacerbated by delays in releasing the capitation grant and challenges in ensuring quality teaching at the basic level.
“This emphasises the importance of foundational learning. For years, basic education has been neglected. Without quality teachers and timely support at this level, children are pushed through the system without the skills needed to succeed,” Mahama explained.
The President warned that students who lack essential foundational skills are effectively moved along a “conveyor belt,” only to struggle later at secondary and tertiary levels. He described the situation as a major concern for the government, parents, and the public.
Mahama added that he has instructed the Minister of Education to conduct a detailed review of the examiners’ report to determine the root causes of the dramatic drop in performance, noting that the same teachers and conditions were in place as in previous years.
“It is mind-boggling that under the same teachers and circumstances, one batch performs so disastrously. We must get to the bottom of this,” he stated.
