Deputy Minister for Education and Builsa South MP, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, has challenged claims that Ghana’s secondary education system is facing an unprecedented crisis, citing significant improvements in three core WASSCE subjects in 2026.
According to Dr Apaak, the credit pass rate in Core Mathematics increased from 48.73% in 2025 to 60.75% in 2026, representing a rise of 12.02 percentage points.
Integrated Science also improved from 57.74% to 62.08%, while Social Studies recorded the largest increase, moving from 55.82% in 2025 to 78.04% in 2026 — a gain of 22.22 percentage points.
He, however, acknowledged a decline in English Language performance.
The pass rate fell from 69% in 2025 to 62.40% in 2026, a decline of 6.6 percentage points.
Dr Apaak says the figures present a mixed picture that requires closer analysis rather than broad claims of a collapse in secondary education.
On the 2026 BECE placement exercise, he said the Ministry of Education declared 859,828 vacancies for 623,072 candidates, indicating that the challenge is not an overall shortage of places.
He said 313,000 candidates selected Category A schools as their first choice, competing for only 76,417 places.
In contrast, Category B and C schools had more than 719,000 declared vacancies.
Dr Apaak said more than 527,000 qualified candidates, representing approximately 87.3%, were automatically placed during the first phase.
Candidates who were not automatically placed, he explained, could still access the self-placement system, including opportunities in participating private Free SHS institutions.
He is also defending stricter measures introduced to protect examination integrity, including the cancellation of results of candidates found with mobile phones and foreign materials during the 2026 WASSCE.
Dr Apaak is urging stakeholders to focus the education debate on the data, particularly the reasons behind the 22.22-percentage-point improvement in Social Studies, the 12.02-point rise in Mathematics, and the 6.6-point decline in English Language.
He also wants attention directed towards making under-subscribed Category C schools more attractive and expanding Technical and Vocational Education and Training pathways.
For Dr Apaak, the figures should form the basis of a broader national discussion on the state of Ghana’s education system.
Source: Bolgafmonline.com| 102.7 MHz| Bolgatanga
