By Jennifer Nerkie Kenney
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, says the poor performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) must prompt a national reassessment of secondary education rather than serve as grounds for finger-pointing.
Speaking at the inauguration of governing councils of four Colleges of Education on Tuesday, December 24, 2025, the Minister said government would not shy away from responsibility and will use the results to drive reforms in quality assurance, infrastructure and assessment.
He noted that while students are often praised for good results, blame is quickly shifted to government when outcomes are poor, stressing that, improving standards requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders in the education sector.
“When the WASSCE results are released and students perform well, we praise them, but when they don’t do well, we blame the minister. I refuse to accept that approach. These results should be a wake-up call for all of us to assess the state of secondary education in Ghana, including quality assurance and quality improvement,” he said.
The Minister raised concerns about stagnant infrastructure in many senior high schools, explaining that several institutions have seen no expansion for more than a decade. He said some schools have operated since 2008 without additional dormitories or classrooms, worsening congestion and contributing to the double-track system.
According to him, the government has secured 200 million dollars from the World Bank to expand infrastructure and eliminate the double-track system, while also commending institutions that have taken independent steps to address the problem.
“Many schools have remained with the same infrastructure from 2008 till today, with no new dormitories or classrooms. That is why government has secured 200 million dollars from the World Bank to end the double-track system. I must commend Saint Peter’s School for being among the first to end double track, and we will reward them with additional infrastructure,” he said.
The Minister further announced plans to upgrade schools across the country as part of a broader intervention to improve access and quality. He said government intends to reclassify 30 Category C schools to Category B, upgrade 10 Category B schools to Category A, and expand facilities in all existing Category A schools.
“As I have announced publicly, we will convert 30 Category C schools to B, move 10 Category B schools to A, and expand infrastructure in all Category A schools. This is about improving quality and ensuring our schools are fit for purpose,” he announced.
He explained that the initiative forms part of a long-term strategy to improve learning conditions, reduce overcrowding and ensure equity across the secondary education system.
