Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has wondered why some people always believe that it is impossible for Ghanaian students to be the best in what they do.
He believes that for political reasons, some have decided to question the integrity of the results of the 2023 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in which the candidates performed so well.
“Our SHS students go from Keta SHS to Harvard University and excel. Our girls at Mamfe Senior High go for a world competition in robotics and win against teams from the USA, Germany and South Korea. Our boys from Prempeh College have won robotics world competitions against global competitors many times.
“Yet when these same students excel at WASSCE some people for political reasons even question the integrity of their results!
“Why do some always believe that it is impossible for our students or our people to be the best? It is possible! Congratulations to WASSCE students for their excellent performance in the examination,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) released the results on Monday, December 18.
“The Council will make available login details to heads of school to enable them to access the results of their candidates. The results have been hosted online and candidates who so desire may access their results at the Council’s website www.waecgh.org,” the release stated.
The Council cautioned “all its stakeholders to be wary of fraudsters who promise to upgrade results for a fee.”
Government officials such as a Presidential Staffer, Dennis Miracles Aboagye said the good results of the 2023 WASSCE shows that more students are going to benefit from key interventions of the government, including the removal of the guarantor system from the student loan acquisition.
With the removal of the guarantor system in loan acquisition at the tertiary level, Mr Aboagye said, all these children with dreams will get the chance to access tertiary education without any financial barrier.
“Undisputed Data shows massive performance by Free SHS Students in their WASSCE Exams. The Performance analysis of the WASSCE Results from 2015 to 2023 proves the superior performance of Free SHS Batch over Cash & Carry SHS period,” he said.
“Two victories for mother Ghana : every Ghanaian child of 2nd cycle going age gets the chance without financial hindrance. Quality has improved which is reflecting in the massive performance in their exams. With the removal of the guarantor system in loan acquisition at the tertiary level by President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia, all these children with dreams will get the chance to access tertiary education without any financial barrier.
“Those who want to access Teacher & Nursing Training colleges will do so knowing very well, the state will support their dream with allowances to enable them get through their studies successfully. Vision, Commitment, empathy, and dedication by leadership is what has brought Ghana to this point in our education. Slowly but steadily we shall Rise,” he wrote on his X platform on Tuesday.
But Dr Apaak who is also a ranking member on the committee of education in Parliament said in a statement that “What many may not know is that, since 2020, students in Ghana have written a customised, Ghana specific WASSCE. Or, if you like, GHASSCE. There is a bit of explanation on this. Other member nations of WASSCE postponed their 2020 WASSCE examinations to 2021 due to the unanticipated emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic.”