Franklin Cudjoe Sounds Alarm After Massive WASSCE Maths Failure

Ghana’s education sector is once again under intense scrutiny after the 2025 WASSCE results confirmed one of the steepest declines in recent years. IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe is calling for a full restructuring of the system, insisting that the latest performance is proof that Ghana can no longer continue with business as usual.

The newly released WASSCE data shows a worrying drop in Core Mathematics, where passes from A1 to C6 fell sharply from 305,132 in 2024 to just 209,068 in 2025. The 48.73 percent pass rate means more than half of this year’s candidates failed to meet the basic requirement for tertiary admission. Social Studies also recorded a notable decline, deepening concerns about the nation’s academic direction.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, December 6, Cudjoe expressed frustration over what he described as a systemic breakdown. He explained that many students appear to be struggling with comprehension, which makes it difficult for them to understand exam questions or even the textbooks they are expected to learn from. He argued that until Ghana addresses the roots of these challenges, exam outcomes will continue to deteriorate regardless of how much money is invested in the sector.

Cudjoe also highlighted the shortage of well-trained teachers and the limited preparation time available to both teachers and students. He warned that frequent changes in education ministers and sudden policy shifts have created instability, leaving schools confused and unable to maintain consistent standards. According to him, Ghana now needs a deep, complete and honest review of the entire education value chain—teaching methods, curriculum structure, teacher quality, assessment models, exam formats, supervision and policy direction.

He described the situation as a moment for national reflection, noting that the continuous decline threatens the quality of Ghana’s human capital and the competitiveness of future graduates. A “360-degree review,” he emphasized, is the only way to restore public confidence and produce students who can compete anywhere in the world.

Public reaction to the results continues to intensify. Some citizens argue that many students simply do not study effectively and leave their revision until the very last moment, making it impossible to retain concepts or practise sufficiently. Others believe schools should spend more time teaching students how to study strategically and how to answer exam questions correctly.

READ: BREAKING NEWS: Angel Carbonu of NAGRAT Bows Out By End of 2025

With calls for reform growing louder, the 2025 WASSCE decline has become more than a performance statistic—it has become a wake-up call for policymakers, educators and parents. Many are now waiting to see whether government will respond with concrete changes or allow the cycle of poor results to continue.