President John Dramani Mahama has blamed the poor performance of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination candidates to years of neglect of basic education.
He said the “inability to send the capitation grants, ensuring that we have quality teachers at a foundational level, at a basic level, because it is that level that prepares the child for secondary and tertiary education.
“And once you don't get that level right, you will just send the child through a conveyor belt like a factory, and when it comes out at the end, it will be picked out by quality control and said that this one did not do well,” the President said at the official launch of a STEM Box for basic schoolchildren in Accra.
Focus on foundational learning
President Mahama said the focus must therefore, be on foundational learning, explaining that, “foundational learning means that by the time a child leaves primary school, they should be able to read properly. By the time the child leaves primary school, they should be able to write properly.
“By the time the child leaves primary school, they should be able to do basic arithmetic. If we're able to get our children to get these three things right, writing, reading, and arithmetic, then they have the foundation to continue into secondary education,” the President said.
He said, otherwise, “it will be a factory that is just pushing them through and pushing them through, and at the end of it, you have the situation where a child finishes basic school and sometimes still finds it difficult to write his name.”
President Mahama gave the assurance that vigilance was not going to go away. Strict invigilation was not going to go away and stressed the need to make sure that the children were well prepared to, on their own, be able to study and pass the exams that were waiting for them.
“I have asked the Minister of Education and the Director General of the GES to study the Chief Examiner's report and let's see what quick reforms we can carry out in order that our children get a quality education,” he told the gathering.
Confirmation
Confirming the President’s directive, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, said the ministry was currently reviewing the examiner's report on the WASSCE and as and when it was necessary and appropriate to respond, “we will respond adequately and satisfactorily.”
He noted that it was only in Ghana that when students did well in examinations, the students were praised, but “when they don't do well, the minister and the government are blamed.”
Learners with special needs
The minister gave the assurance that the government's commitment to the provision of quality education under the leadership of President Mahama would remain unparalleled, adding that the President would demonstrate that in the coming days.
“Mr. President, I am happy to note that in addition to today's launch, if we so get the GETFund Amendment Act, which is currently before Parliament, passed it, under your guidance and leadership and your enduring legacy as President of Ghana, all learners with special needs in Ghana from January 2026 will enjoy free education,” Mr Iddrisu announced.
He explained that this would be part of President Mahama's quest to expand education to marginalised, deprived, vulnerable people, adding that currently there were about 9,000 learners with special needs across the country.
Additionally, Mr Iddrisu announced that President Mahama had asked for an adjustment of the GH¢8.00 a day to GH¢15.00 to allow them to enjoy their school feeding.
“When the amendment passes, the special education unit, in conjunction with the GETFund, will provide adequate provision for the take off of President Mahama, one social intervention and one social initiative,” the minister said.
