WAEC major problem in Ghana’s education system – GNACOPS Director

The National Executive Director of the Ghana National Council of Private Schools, Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, has described the West African Examinations Council as one of the major challenges facing Ghana’s education system, arguing that the institution’s role within the country’s academic structure has become outdated.

Speaking on Anopa Bosuo, a current affairs program on ATV, Mr. Gyetuah said WAEC’s current operational model no longer aligns with the evolving educational and developmental needs of Ghana. He questioned whether the examination body still serves its intended purpose in shaping a modern, skills-driven education system.

“WAEC has become a major problem in our education system,” Mr. Gyetuah said during the interview. “Its usefulness and purpose within Ghana’s educational framework must be critically examined because the current structure is not meeting the needs of our educational development.”

He argued that Ghana’s education sector requires reforms that go beyond traditional examination systems and focus more on innovation, practical learning, and competency-based assessment. According to him, continued reliance on outdated examination structures could hinder the country’s efforts to improve educational outcomes and prepare students for the modern workforce.

The comments come at a time when stakeholders in Ghana’s education sector have increasingly raised concerns over examination leakages, delays in results release, and the broader relevance of standardized testing in measuring academic performance.

WAEC, which conducts major examinations across several West African countries, has played a central role in secondary education assessment for decades. However, recent debates among education experts, policymakers, and school administrators have intensified over whether the body’s systems require significant reforms.

It remains unclear whether Mr. Gyetuah’s remarks will trigger formal policy discussions, but education stakeholders are expected to continue engaging government institutions and regulators on the future of assessment and examination reforms in Ghana.