The Former District Chief Executive for Amansie South, Lawyer Clement Opoku Gyamfi, has expressed concern over what he describes as the overly complex vocabulary used in setting questions for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). He argued that it contributed significantly to students’ poor performance.
His remarks follow the release of the 2025 WASSCE provisional results by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), which showed that 114,872 candidates representing 26.77% failed Mathematics, while 122,449 candidates, representing 27.50%, failed Social Studies.
According to him, the results raise serious questions about the state of education, especially when students are failing Social Studies, a subject he described as the “cheapest” and most relatable among all examination subjects.
He explained that Social Studies is often considered a bonus subject when calculating results because its questions are usually straightforward and grounded in everyday societal issues. For that reason, he said, the high failure rate is deeply troubling.
Lawyer Gyamfi argued that the problem is not always the fault of the students, but sometimes stems from how examination questions are framed.
He stressed that the vocabulary used in setting the questions often makes them difficult for candidates to comprehend and respond to appropriately.
He therefore urged WAEC to critically review the language and vocabulary used in future WASSCE questions to ensure they are clear and accessible to students.
