Tema, Ghana, 6th December: Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has expressed deep concern over what he describes as a major collapse in the management of secondary education, following a significant decline in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results.
According to him, the sharp drop in performance is a direct consequence of the policies and practices of the former Akufo-Addo administration.
A comparative review of the 2024 and 2025 results shows that nearly 250,000 fewer students obtained the essential A1–C6 passes in the four core subjects required for admission into tertiary institutions.
Abraham Koomson said the numbers point to an unprecedented national education crisis that cannot be ignored.
He alleged that the previous administration deliberately created conditions that fuelled widespread examination malpractice in an attempt to artificially boost pass rates and promote the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy as a success story.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu show on Saturday, 6th December, Koomson revealed that the past government distributed free past questions sourced from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to students.
He argued that this approach combined with broader systemic challenges encouraged memorisation over meaningful learning, and may have contributed to a culture of exam dependency rather than genuine academic preparation.
Mr. Koomson further suggested that although the Free SHS policy expanded access, the rapid surge in enrolment was not matched by corresponding investment in infrastructure, teaching materials, and teacher training. This, he said, weakened the quality of instruction and left students less prepared for the WASSCE.
He added that the disappointing 2025 results may reflect a significant reduction in the high levels of exam malpractice that characterised previous years, revealing the true state of educational outcomes after the inflated performance statistics of the past.
LISTEN TO ABRAHAM KOOMSON IN THE AUDIO BELOW:
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/Ahotoronline.com | Ghana