As the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) 2026 cycle approaches, a dark cloud of uncertainty hangs over the academic prospects of thousands of Ghanaian students. In a blistering critique of the current administration’s handling of the sector, Dr. Peter Anti, the Executive Director of the Institute for Education Studies (IFEST), has accused the Ministry of Education of "policy inertia" and a failure to address the declining performance trends observed in the 2025 results.
A Call for Accountability
Speaking via Zoom on a national news desk, Dr. Anti did not mince words regarding the lack of intervention from the state. His comments come at a time when education stakeholders are questioning why the high failure rates in core subjects like Mathematics and Science have not triggered a national emergency response.
"Let it be on record that the Ministry of Education never did anything to ensure that student performance improves this year," Dr. Anti stated emphatically. "We have called and asked the Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to let Ghanaians know the policy measures they have put in place since the release of the WASSCE 2025 results, but that call has not been heeded."
Dr. Anti’s frustration stems from what he describes as a "deafening silence" from the Ghana Education Service (GES). He argues that without a centralized, national strategy, individual schools are left to navigate the complex challenges of the curriculum on their own, often with limited resources.
Trend Analysis: The Dip from 2024 to 2025
The urgency of Dr. Anti’s warning is backed by a worrying trend in academic performance over the last two years. While the 2024 WASSCE results were hailed by some as a success, a closer look at the 2025 data reveals a significant "dip" in performance, particularly in the sciences.
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2024 WASSCE: Following the full implementation of various Free SHS interventions, the 2024 results showed a stabilization in core subjects. While the pass rate in Integrated Science was relatively stable, the quality of grades (A1 to C6) began to show cracks in rural and under-resourced districts.
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2025 WASSCE: The "dip" became undeniable in 2025. According to the WAEC Chief Examiner's reports cited during the broadcast, performance in Mathematics and Science continues to decline. The number of students failing to meet the minimum entry requirements for tertiary education increased, sparking fears of a "lost generation" of students who are unable to progress to the university level.
Dr. Anti points out that these statistics are not just numbers; they represent young Ghanaians whose futures are currently in limbo because the state failed to adjust its sails after the 2024 warning signs.
The Looming 2026 Crisis
With only two months remaining before the WASSCE 2026 examinations begin, Dr. Anti believes it may already be too late for a massive national turnaround, though he insists that individual interventions could still save some candidates.
"Individual schools have indicated that they have not had any policy direction from the Ministry," Dr. Anti revealed. "What they are doing now are their own interventions and their own understanding of how to help students. We believe the Ministry should have taken this seriously and led in terms of policy to ensure we don’t have a disaster of a result this year."
The lack of a "National Direction" means that the gap between top-tier "Category A" schools and the struggling community day schools is widening. While elite schools can afford private tutors and extra labs, the average student in a rural setting is relying solely on a government that Dr. Anti claims has "done nothing" to change the status quo.
Stakeholder Responsibility
While the Ministry of Education is the primary target of his critique, Dr. Anti acknowledged that a holistic improvement requires a multi-faceted approach involving parents and the students themselves.
"Parents have a role to play, school authorities have a role to play, and the students themselves must understand that this is their future we are talking about," Dr. Anti noted. "They owe it to themselves to sit down and study the things they are being taught."
However, he concluded by reiterating that the ultimate responsibility for the "trend of performance" lies with the regulators. He warned that if the 2026 results mirror the decline of 2025, no one in the Ministry should be allowed to claim credit for student success, as the groundwork for that success was never laid.
The 2025 WASSCE results served as a wake-up call that the Ministry of Education seemingly slept through. As the 2026 examinations loom, the education sector stands at a crossroads. Will the government finally introduce the interventions IFEST has called for, or will we see a third consecutive year of dipping performance in the foundational subjects of Math and Science? For now, the "record" Dr. Anti speaks of remains one of silence and missed opportunities.
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