Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has extended congratulations to candidates of the 2023 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), praising their exceptional performance. In response to critics challenging the authenticity of the results, Dr. Bawumia expressed astonishment at the skepticism surrounding the excellence of Ghanaian students, highlighting instances of their global success.
He cited examples of students transitioning from local schools to prestigious universities like Harvard, triumphing in international robotics competitions, and winning accolades on a global platform. Despite such triumphs, there’s been a recurring trend of doubting the prowess of Ghanaian students, especially when it comes to their performance in WASSCE.
Dr. Bawumia’s remarks followed the recent release of the WASSCE results by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on December 18. The Council urged caution against fraudulent activities related to result upgrades and assured the authenticity of the results through their verification system.
Meanwhile, amidst the commendations from government officials on the improved WASSCE outcomes, including Presidential Staffer Dennis Miracles Aboagye, who highlighted the removal of financial barriers for tertiary education through reforms, Builsa South Lawmaker Dr. Clement Apaak contested the narrative.
Dr. Apaak, also a ranking member on the education committee in Parliament, clarified that since 2020, Ghanaian students have undertaken a modified, country-specific WASSCE due to the pandemic-related postponement of exams in other member nations.
The contrasting perspectives between government officials celebrating the successes as a result of various educational interventions and Dr. Apaak’s clarification about the modified examination format have sparked discussions and debates around the authenticity and interpretations of the WASSCE results.