The 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results show a drop in performance in three of the four core subjects compared to 2023, according to data released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The percentage of candidates scoring A1 to C6 in English Language declined to 69.52% in 2024 from 73.11% in 2023. Similarly, Integrated Science saw a significant drop, with only 58.77% of candidates passing, compared to 66.82% last year. Social Studies also recorded a decline, with 71.53% achieving A1 to C6 this year, down from 76.76% in 2023.

Mathematics was the only core subject to improve, with 66.86% of candidates attaining A1 to C6 in 2024, up from 62.23% in 2023. WAEC noted that Mathematics has shown consistent improvement over the past four years.

This year, 460,611 candidates from 1,003 schools registered for the exams, marking a 2.66% increase from 2023’s figure of 448,674. Females outnumbered males, with 247,657 candidates compared to 212,954 males. However, 1% of registered candidates (4,609) were absent.

WAEC attributed some challenges to examination irregularities, which led to the cancellation of results for 4,591 candidates. Another 990 results have been withheld pending investigations, involving allegations of collusion at 319 schools.