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New data from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) reveals a concerning trend: performance in Core Mathematics has plummeted to its lowest point in seven years. With over 220,000 candidates failing the subject, educators and stakeholders are urgently seeking answers. According to a top WAEC official, the root cause lies not in the curriculum, but in specific, practical skills that students are missing.
A Dramatic Decline in Performance
The provisional results for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) are stark. Out of 461,736 candidates who sat for Core Mathematics, a mere 48.73%—or 209,068 students—achieved a passing grade between A1 and C6. This marks a catastrophic drop of nearly 18 percentage points from the 66.86% pass rate recorded in 2024.
Perhaps more alarming is the failure rate: 114,872 candidates, representing 26.77% of entries, received an F9 grade. This drastic downturn underscores a significant academic challenge that demands immediate attention.
The Seven Key Weaknesses
In an interview on the JOY Super Morning Show, John Kapi, Head of Public Relations at WAEC, pinpointed the exact areas where candidates struggled. He emphasized that these weaknesses are not due to unfamiliar topics but reflect gaps in applying knowledge.
According to Mr. Kapi, Chief Examiners identified seven critical skill deficiencies:
Representing mathematical information in diagrams or sketches.
Solving global, real-world math problems.
Constructing cumulative frequency tables.
Making logical deductions from real-life scenarios.
Solving simple interest applications.
Translating word problems into solvable mathematical expressions.
Interpreting results from cumulative frequency data.
“These are areas that the chief examiners observed weaknesses in the candidates’ performance,” Kapi stated. “Obviously, these are not topics that are outside the syllabus or the test blueprint.”
Curriculum Consistency, but a Call for Practical Focus
Mr. Kapi was clear: the syllabus has not changed. The decline is not a result of students being tested on unfamiliar material. Instead, it signals a pressing need to strengthen how core mathematical concepts are taught and applied.
The results highlight a disconnect between theoretical knowledge and practical problem-solving. Students may understand formulas in isolation but are faltering when asked to use them in integrated, word-based, or graphical contexts.
The Path Forward
The 2025 WASSCE math results serve as a crucial wake-up call. The data suggests that moving forward, emphasis must shift toward:
Applied Learning: Integrating more real-life problem-solving into math instruction.
Skill Reinforcement: Focusing pedagogical efforts on the seven weak areas identified by examiners.
Foundation Building: Ensuring students master the translation of everyday problems into mathematical language, which is fundamental to success.
While the number of schools registering candidates saw a marginal increase, and absenteeism remained low, the focus must now turn squarely to the quality of understanding and application in the classroom.
Conclusion
The sharp decline in Core Mathematics performance is more than a statistic; it’s a direct indicator of specific educational gaps. As WAEC’s analysis confirms, the solution lies in targeted teaching that bridges the gap between theory and practice. Addressing these skill deficiencies will be essential to reversing this trend and equipping students with the mathematical literacy they need for future academic and professional success.
