Over 600 parents gathered at the West African Examination Council (WAEC) office in Sunyani, Bono region, to demand the release of their children’s WASSCE results.
WAEC had withheld the results of some candidates over alleged examination malpractices. Some subject results of candidates from 235 schools have been withheld for giving artificial intelligence-generated answers during the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).
WAEC has also withheld the subject results of 4,280 candidates and the entire results of 1,005 for various suspected offences.
During a meeting with the parents, WAEC stated that the only option for the affected students was to rewrite the papers. This decision angered the parents, who argued that their children were not at fault and should not be made to rewrite any paper.
The parents emphasized that their children had studied hard and should not be punished for the negligence of the exam invigilators who failed to supervise them properly during the exams.
Spokesperson for the parents, Mr. Agyemang Prempeh, who engaged the media expressed their frustration, stating that the innocent children should not suffer for the mistakes of others. He called on the government to intervene, noting that the affected students’ peers were already in tertiary institutions.
The Ministry of Education has criticized former President John Dramani Mahama for his recent comments regarding the 2023 WASSCE results.
The NDC Presidential candidate had raised concerns about the authenticity of the results, alleging that some invigilators are lax, allowing teachers to assist students in answering questions.
In response, the Ministry of Education accused Mahama of making disparaging comments as a calculated attempt to undermine the significant progress achieved by the ministry in improving learning outcomes in the country.
In a press statement sighted by JoyNews, the MoE stated that “we have made monumental progress in core subjects from an average 40.93 percent score (A1 –C6) in 2015 to a highly improved average of 69.73 percent score (A1 – C6) in 2023.”
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education highlighted that Ghana achieved the highest-ever number of 8A1s in 2020 and repeated the feat in 2023, with the country contributing 411 out of the 465 8A1s recorded across West Africa.
The ministry described the former President’s assertion as a false misrepresentation of the facts which only seeks to malign “the integrity of the vast majority of our hard-working teachers and students.”
The Ministry of Education urged all well-meaning Ghanaians to condemn the former President’s statement and expressed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of education in the country.
“The Ministry reiterates our commitment that the quality of education and examinations at all levels, including the WASSCE will not be compromised,” the statement added.
Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia has offered words of encouragement to students, particularly the 2023 WASSCE candidates, urging them not to let anyone denigrate their achievements.
Responding to former President John Mahama’s campaign message accusing the government and teachers of allowing students to cheat during exams, Dr. Bawumia emphasized the intelligence and hard work of the students, stating, “Not everyone can appreciate what it takes to be an intelligent student.”
In a Thursday morning Facebook post, Dr. Bawumia acknowledged the students’ excellent performances, attributing their success to hard work.
“You have earned the excellent performances by dint of hard work. God bless you,” Dr Bawumia posted.
“Congratulations to all WASSCE students, their teachers as well as their parents for the excellent performance attained by the students in this year’s [2023] WASSCE.”
“This is no doubt the result of hard work and dedication by all of you. You have made Ghana proud and I wish you the very best as you move on to greater challenges,” Dr Bawumia wrote.
He congratulated all WASSCE students, teachers, and parents for the outstanding results and expressed pride in their dedication.
Dr. Bawumia wished the students the very best as they face greater challenges in the future.
Former President Mahama, in response to the 2023 WASSCE results, raised concerns about the lack of textbooks in the education system and criticized the government’s handling of the curriculum.
Despite the data showing the best results in the last five years, Mahama expressed doubt and claimed that invigilators allowed students to cheat in many places during exams.
He warned of potential consequences when students use their certificates abroad, stating that it could affect the nation.
Mahama pledged that if he wins the 2024 election, his government would work with teachers to re-order the system for proper administration.
During an appearance on Newsfile on Saturday, he announced that the 2023 performance sets a new record, marking the best results since the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy and the highest since 2015.
Dr. Adutwum attributed this achievement to the commitment and dedication of teachers who invested their time and energy in providing additional support and guidance, ultimately contributing to the outstanding performance of the students.
“We have teachers who have sacrificed their lives so much that, they stay after school, they are there before school and they support these students to work hard so that we can see the outcomes that we are seeing.”
Emphasizing the notable improvement in each subject of the WASSCE, the Minister affirmed that these results are indicative of the high quality of education being imparted in schools.
Examining specific subject results, Dr Adutwum pointed out notable progress, stating, “If we look at what has happened, in integrated science, 28.7% passed in 2015. When we say pass, we mean the pass that can take you to university, A1 to C6. Now it’s 66.82%, and this cannot be by accident. It has been increasing over the years.”
Acknowledging the collaborative efforts of the government, headmasters, and teachers, the Minister emphasized their dedication to improving the quality of education. He underscored their commitment to providing the necessary resources and support to achieve positive outcomes in student performance.
In addition to lauding the Free SHS program, the Minister emphasized the significance of targeted interventions to assist students facing challenges in specific subjects. He stressed that intervention classes are specifically designed to enhance students’ proficiency in the subjects where they may be struggling.
“This is something that Wesley Girls have been doing for a long time. They assess students who come to them and after assessing, they prescribe interventions for them,” he added.
A former student of Mfantsipim School, Osman Zulqarnain, who works as a mechanic to support himself, has scored an impressive 8As in the 2023 WASSCE results.
The remarkable story gained attention when @bromikemissions, an X user, shared Zulqarnain’s alleged results on social media, shedding light on his financial struggles. “His name is Osman Zulqarnain. Mfantsipim School alumnus, who now works as a mechanic to support himself, cannot afford to fund his education due to financial constraints. My advocacy is to draw people’s attention. He needs help,” wrote @bromikemissions.
Moved by Zulqarnain’s dedication, @bromikemissions has called for support for the young man so he can focus on schooling without worrying about how he will pay his fees.
It's disgusting. But Charley bongo. Another Fita boy clock A's oo. I think he needs the attention too. pic.twitter.com/D0BXpRmFM0
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) released the provisional results for the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on Monday, December 18, 2023.
According to John Kapi, WAEC’s head of public affairs, this year’s results are the best since 2017. A total of 448,674 candidates from 975 schools participated in the examination, reflecting a 5.8% increase from the 2022 entry figure of 422,883.
The results for the “Ghana-only version” of the examination highlight the best performances in English, Integrated Science, and Social Studies from 2015 to 2023 and the third-best results in Mathematics over the same period.
Despite the overall success, WAEC acknowledged irregularities, reporting the cancellation of results for candidates found with foreign materials and possession of mobile phones in examination halls. Subject results for some candidates from 235 schools have been withheld for collusion and suspected use of artificial intelligence-generated answers, pending ongoing investigations.
“I never chose my life, life chose me, I just have to focus on the mechanics because I can’t afford tertiary….” ~Osman Zulqarnain
A young mechanic with an excellent results (8As) in the 2023 Wassce. Osman, a brilliant guy who has been doing mechanics (fitting) to support his… pic.twitter.com/X6CDoxF6Kz
St. James Seminary Senior High School tops the schools with its average percentage of passes at 98.80%. Aburi Girls’ Snr. High School secured the 20th slot with 74.46%.
Other prominent schools that find their way into this list include Opoku Ware Senior High School, Wesley Girls Senior High School, Presec Legon Boys’ Snr. High School Adisadel College, Prempeh College and Mfantsipim School.
Here are the top 2023 WASSCE ranking schools in Ghana;
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has hailed the recently released 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, asserting that they showcase the high calibre of students in Ghana’s Senior High School (SHS) education sector.
In a statement on Monday, December 18, 2023, Dr Bawumia addressed critics of the results, emphasizing the excellence of Ghanaian students. He presented data from the WASSCE results, highlighting outstanding achievements by SHS students on both national and international platforms.
“Our SHS students go from Keta SHS to Harvard University and excel.
“Our girls at Mamfe Senior High go for a world competition in robotics and win against teams from the USA, Germany, and South Korea.
“Our boys from Prempeh College have won robotics world competitions against global competitors many times.
“Yet when these same students excel at WASSCE, some people, for political reasons, even question the integrity of their results! Why do some always believe that it is impossible for our students or our people to be the best? It is possible!” Dr Bawumia emphasised.
Dr Bawumia’s post on Facebook on December 19th 2023
He congratulated the candidates for their “excellent” performance in the 2023 exam and urged a shift in the perception that doubts the capabilities of Ghanaian students.
According to data shared by the West African Examination Council (WAEC), 73.11% of students who sat for this year’s exam obtained grades A1-C6 in all core subjects. This marks the highest performance since 2015.
“2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 are the Free SHS Graduates and the only years in the past 8 years that more than 50% of candidates obtained A1-C6 in All Core subjects,” a footnote accompanying the data shared by Dr Bawumia read.
The Free SHS policy, introduced by the government in 2017, aims to provide free education from basic to secondary level to all Ghanaian children. The policy has been praised by some as a major achievement in expanding access and quality of education, but also criticised by others as unsustainable and poorly implemented
The 2023 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) provisional results have been unveiled by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
Candidates can access their results online by visiting www.waecgh.org, as announced in a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi.
However, 4,878 candidates who failed to return provided learning support materials are unable to access their results online. WAEC has blocked their results, and affected candidates are advised to contact their respective schools.
WAEC reported the cancellation of subject results for 3,647 candidates due to the offense of “bringing foreign materials into the examination hall.”
Additionally, the entire results of 839 candidates were cancelled for possessing mobile phones during the examination.
Furthermore, the subject results of 4,280 candidates and the entire results of 1,005 have been withheld for various suspected offenses.
Results from candidates in 235 schools are also under scrutiny for collusion and the use of artificially generated answers through artificial intelligence.
The statement indicates that these cases are currently under investigation, and the release or cancellation of the withheld results will depend on the investigation outcomes.
They have expressed concerns that these crucial examinations are in jeopardy unless the government resolves all outstanding debts owed to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
According to citinewsroom.com, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, the Minority Spokesperson on Education, voiced deep worries over WAEC’s pressing need for over GH₵50 million to fulfill its financial obligations and ensure the smooth organization of the upcoming 2023 examinations.
He pointed out the current challenges faced by WAEC, citing the government’s failure to release funds for compensating individuals who provided services during the 2022 WASSCE. This includes allowances owed to supervisors, invigilators, examiners, and other personnel involved in the examination process.
“The challenge for WAEC now is the government’s inability to release funds to them to perform their functions. Those who worked for WAEC last year, 2022, in the conduct of the WASSCE have not been paid the allowances due to the supervisors, the invigilators, the examiners, and all other persons. So, WAEC is unable to raise funds to meet its obligations,” he said.
With the 2023 examinations approaching, WAEC finds itself unable to cover the expenses incurred during the previous year’s services.
The minority spokesperson on education said that if swift actions are not taken, teachers and individuals who provided services as supervisors and invigilators may be reluctant to participate again in the future.
“Now the examinations are about to start again, or they have even started with the orals and practicals and the WAEC is not having money to pay for last year’s services. So, we don’t know what the government is doing and if care is not taken, the persons or the teachers who gave us the service may not be ready to provide services again as supervisors and invigilators,” he added.
Drawing attention to the practices in other countries, Nortsu-Koto, questioned why the same cannot be done here in Ghana.
“I know of a country, a member country, that by the end of the first quarter, all the budget ofWAEC is released to them for national and international examinations. Why can’t we do the same in Ghana?”
“This is the challenge WAEC is facing and if we don’t help them to get what is due them, I don’t know how the exams for this year will be conducted. For now, they need about GH₵50 million to clear the previous year’s arrears. Those who print their scripts for them, those who print booklets, they owe all of them. So, if you don’t pay, how will they provide those materials for you?”
