Unmasking the crisis of cancelled and withheld WAEC results

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has been the cornerstone of assessment in Ghana's education system for a long time.

However, concerns about transparency, accountability, and fairness have sparked calls for reform. As Ghana continues to evolve its educational landscape, it's essential to examine the role of WAEC and potential alternatives.

Ghana's assessment system, heavily reliant on WAEC, has been criticised for its narrow focus on pen-and-paper examinations.

This approach often prioritises rote memorisation over critical thinking, creativity, and practical skills.

Many students and educators argue that this system fails to adequately prepare students for the demands of the modern workforce.

For instance, the current system doesn't allow students to showcase their creative and innovative abilities, which are essential skills in today's fast-paced world.

Concerns

There are growing concerns that WAEC requires independent regulation to ensure accountability and transparency.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) could potentially play this role, providing oversight and guidance to WAEC.

This would help to ensure fairness and consistency in examination processes, enhance transparency in marking and grading, and provide a platform for stakeholder feedback and concerns.

With NaCCA's involvement, WAEC's processes could become more robust and credible.

Moreover, some educators advocate for a shift towards competency-based assessments, which focus on practical skills and real-world application.

This approach could better prepare students for the workforce and provide a more comprehensive evaluation of their abilities.

By emphasising critical thinking and problem-solving, competency-based assessments would encourage creativity and innovation, providing students with practical experience and skills that are essential in today's world.

Another proposal is to establish an independent assessment body, comprising public and private stakeholders, to design, moderate, and oversee examinations.

This could enhance credibility and trust in the system by bringing together diverse expertise and perspectives, ensuring accountability and transparency in assessment processes, and providing a platform for stakeholder engagement and feedback.

Reforms

Reforming Ghana's assessment system could have numerous benefits.

For one, it could improve student outcomes and preparedness for the workforce.

It could also enhance credibility and trust in the education system, increase transparency and accountability in assessment processes, and better align the system with modern educational needs and demands.

In conclusion, Ghana's education system is at a crossroads.

The current assessment system, while well-intentioned, has limitations that need to be addressed.

By exploring alternative approaches and regulatory frameworks, we can work towards a more effective, transparent, and accountable system that benefits students and stakeholders alike. 

The time for reform is now.

Let's work together to shape the future of assessment in Ghana.

Writer:

The writer is the Executive Director of the Ghana National Council of Private Schools ·