Education is the act of acquiring knowledge, and examinations are essential in assessing students’ understanding so they can further their education.
For decades, Ghanaian students have written the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, popularly known as WASSCE.
However, I believe it is time for Ghana to introduce its own national senior secondary examination.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) was established in 1952 by the British West African Government to conduct standard and fair examinations and issue certificates recognised across West Africa.
The countries that participate in WASSCE include Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia.
The examination questions are largely produced in Nigeria.
This is because Nigeria was the first country to use the WAEC examination system and also has the largest number of candidates.
As a result, Nigeria developed a large number of experienced examiners and moderators.
However, Ghana is an independent country and should not rely on externally produced examination questions.
Ghana should create a Ghana-only Senior Secondary Certificate Examination just like other developed African countries such as South Africa, Egypt and Kenya, which run their own national examination.
Ghana already has qualified teachers, professors and examination bodies such as the Ghana Education Service (GES) and NaCCA, which are capable of managing a national examination.
Benefits of a national examination
. Alignment with Ghana’s curriculum: A national examination will be based on exactly what students are taught in their schools, reducing memorisation and encouraging critical thinking and understanding.
. Flexible grading system: Unlike WASSCE, which puts extreme pressure on students, a national examination could have a more flexible and student-friendly grading system. This will reduce anxiety and help lower the rate of failure
3. Job creation: A national examination system will create jobs for examiners, moderators, supervisors, printers and administrators, thereby reducing unemployment in the country.
4. Faster results and better control: WASSCE results often take a long time to be released because they depend on multiple countries. A national examination will ensure faster results and better control of the entire process.
Despite the benefits, there are certain challenges major challenge is cost.
This is the estimated annual costs
Setting and moderating questions: ₵GH¢30 million
Printing and security: GH¢150 million
Training and payment of examiners: ₵GH¢100 million
This brings the total estimated cost to about ₵GH¢280 million per year.
In USD it is $18.4 million (Interbank exchange rate: Monday Feb. 2, 2026) slightly higher than the WASSCE cost.
2. Another challenge is inadequate infrastructure, especially examination centres
But there are solutions
1. Gradual implementation; Ghana can begin by running the national examination alongside WASSCE for a few years before fully adopting the system. This reduces financial pressure and allows proper testing of the system.
2. Grading investment: The government can gradually invest in the examination centres and printing systems across the country.
In conclusion, a Ghana-only Senior Secondary Certificate Examination will strengthen Ghana’s education sector and contribute to the development of the nation.
