A Social Policy Analyst, Kojo Asiamah Addo, has attributed the recent abysmal performance of SHS students in the WASSCE to deep-rooted challenges within the country’s education system.
In an interview on Aluta FM’s Anopa Koko with Agyaba Kwaku, Mr. Addo revealed that his research and school visits show a worrying learning environment across several Senior High Schools.
According to him, teacher shortages remain a major barrier to effective teaching and learning.
“I have been to a lot of schools and teachers are not adequate enough. In some schools, students sit in dining halls because the classrooms are full,” he noted.
He added that in some of the schools he visited, students reported that no teacher had attended to their class for long periods, leaving them to study entirely on their own.
“They read by themselves. When it is dining time, they eat there, clean the place afterwards, and continue sitting there,” he explained.
Mr. Addo stressed that the insufficient contact hours in most schools worsen the situation, as many teachers struggle to complete even half of the syllabus before the end of the term.
Beyond the infrastructural and staffing challenges, the Social Policy Analyst pointed to poor parental supervision and excessive use of social media as contributing factors.
“Parents don’t monitor the studies of their children, and students spend more time on social media than reading their books,” he said.
He concluded that these combined issues, overcrowded classrooms, teacher absenteeism, limited instructional time, and lack of discipline played a significant role in the poor WASSCE outcomes recorded this year.
Mr. Addo called for urgent educational reforms to address these systemic challenges and improve the academic performance of students nationwide.
By Awini Britney
