Analysis of this year’s performance of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) candidates reveals that the average performance of the candidates is the best, when compared with WASSCE results within the past six years, with all four core subjects (English, Mathematics, Integrated Science and Social Studies) recording above 50 per cent pass marks.

Core subjects

This year, performances in Mathematics and English Language are the highest, recording 65.71 and 57.34 per cent, respectively.
Social Studies and Integrated Science recorded 64.31 and 52.53 per cent, respectively, the checks further indicated.

The information shows that about 60 per cent of the 342,500 candidates who wrote the WASSCE, representing over 200,000, scored between A1 and C6 in their best six subjects, including English and Mathematics, which qualify them for tertiary education.

Best so far

The figures released by the WAEC and further analysis by the Daily Graphic, indicates that the performance of the candidates is the best, considering that the current management of education did not place any cut-off point for grades BECE candidates must obtain to proceed to SHS, compared to previously, where aggregate 30 was fixed as the cut-off point.

Consequently, all other candidates were placed, which attracted fierce criticism in certain quarters that the government was compromising the quality of education by opening access to candidates with weak grades.

Interventions
To this end, a number of interventions were rolled out, topmost of which is the Free Senior High School policy that provided the peace of mind for students to study and focus. The policy also included other impactful interventions including the supply of free core textbooks to every student, free uniforms, meals for both day and boarding students, training for Science and Mathematics tutors, core subject teacher training, provision of the Chief Examiners reports to teachers, academic interventions for all students and support for low-performing schools, among others.

Additionally, this batch had to endure a long break following the shutdown of all educational facilities as a result of the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which ultimately interrupted the education system in the country.

“With regard to the percentage of candidates obtaining tertiary education qualifying grades (A1-C6) in the core subjects, this year's WASSCE results are one of the best within the last five years in the nation's educational system,” a source from the management of education stated.

The source maintained that comparing the percentage of candidates obtaining A1-C6 in the core subjects within the last six years, “it can be observed that there has been a remarkable improvement in 2019 and 2020, particularly in Mathematics and Integrated Science”.

Detailed information from the WAEC explained that candidates making A1-C6 in Mathematics increased from 32 per cent in 2016 to 64 per cent in 2020, while English Language recorded the least percentage of 0.6 per cent obtaining grade A1.

The source explained that but for the COVID-19, the candidates would have performed far better the current results.