A recent report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed a disturbing trend in the performance of senior high school students in Mathematics in the Upper East Region.
The region recorded a 15.7% decline in the West African Senior High School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) Mathematics pass rate between 2012/2013 and 2019/2020, from 54.4% to 38.7%.
This decline is not only limited to the Upper East Region, as all five regions in Northern Ghana recorded a decline in the WASSCE Mathematics pass rate during the same period.
Furthermore, the report also revealed a decline in the pass rate for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) Mathematics in the Upper West and Upper East regions, from 60.8% to 49.5% and 58.3% to 50.6%, respectively.
The GSS report examined students pass rates in core subjects at the Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) levels, aimed at providing valuable insights to guide policy decisions and targeted interventions for improving educational outcomes in Ghana
The GSS report emphasizes the importance of data-driven policy actions to bridge the gaps in access to and quality education. Despite progress in certain regions, regional inequalities persist, highlighting the need for deliberate and targeted interventions.
The GSS says though progress is evident in certain regions, they observed regional inequalities highlighting the need for deliberate, data-driven policy actions to bridge gaps in access to and quality education.
The report’s findings are a call to action for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders to address the declining performance in Mathematics in the Upper East Region and other parts of Northern Ghana.
Mike 105.3FM | Navrongo | Alexander Bombande
