Minority Leader of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for an urgent national dialogue on education, warning that recent WASSCE and BECE results indicate a growing crisis that could leave more than 200,000 young Ghanaians at a disadvantage.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the latest results from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) should be a matter of concern for all Ghanaians, particularly the 183,233 students who completed secondary school without obtaining a credit pass in Core Mathematics.
He also raised concerns about the decline in English Language performance, noting that the credit pass rate had dropped to 62.40%, the lowest recorded in four years. He said performance in both Core Mathematics and English Language remained below the levels achieved in 2024.
According to him, the challenges extend beyond WASSCE performance to the transition of students from basic to secondary education.
Mr Afenyo-Markin disclosed that 54,985 BECE candidates were initially denied automatic placement, while reports indicated that some students were wrongly assigned to special schools. Others, he said, arrived at their designated schools only to find that there were no spaces available.
He questioned the apparent disparity between the placement difficulties and the available capacity, pointing out that government figures show 859,828 vacancies for 623,072 candidates.
He further noted that 85 private schools participating in the Free SHS programme also have available spaces, raising questions about the factors contributing to the placement challenges.
“A self-placement portal is not a school place; every child needs an actual seat in a functioning classroom,” he said. Mr Afenyo-Markin therefore warned that more than 200,000 young Ghanaians could be at risk of being left behind at different stages of the secondary-school system.
He urged the government to move beyond reacting to educational problems only after they become public and take concrete steps to address the situation.
Among other measures, he called on the government to publish the final placement outcomes, explain the rules and pass marks applied in the placement process, adequately fund teaching and remedial programmes, and establish clear pathways into technical and vocational education and training (TVET), apprenticeships and skills development for students who fail to obtain the required WASSCE credits.
“The Mahama government is expected to treat this as a major national crisis requiring immediate action and lasting solutions,” he said.
The Effutu MP also called for a broader national discussion on educational funding, teaching quality, contact hours, teacher motivation, learning materials, infrastructure and supervision.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin emphasized that the national conversation on education must rise above partisan politics, noting that the stakes go far beyond any political party. “This must rise above partisan excuses because the future of an entire generation is at stake,” he said.
He defended education policies introduced under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, highlighting initiatives such as Free SHS, Free TVET, apprenticeships, and skills-development programs. These, he explained, were grounded in the belief that poverty or a single set of examination results should not determine a child’s future.
Addressing current challenges, he stressed the need for practical solutions for students who have completed the BECE or WASSCE but are struggling to progress. “The 54,985 BECE candidates need real school places; the 183,233 WASSCE graduates need a second chance,” he stated.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin warned that the situation is already fueling anxiety among parents, pressure on teachers, and uncertainty among young people. “Parents are worried, children are anxious and teachers are under pressure,” he said. “When our children’s education is in crisis, Ghana’s future is in danger. The time to act is now.”
