The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has released the statistics of the West African Senior High Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Let us take a look at what was contained in the statistics with respects to two core subjects : Social Studies and Integrated Science.
The results from the 2019 edition of the WASSCE showed that with respect to Integrated Science, 216,095 students representing 63.17% passed by making grades A1 to C6. Students who had D7 and E8 were 91,151 making (27%) and those who FAILED were 34,825 making (10.18%).
Social Studies on the other hand showed some numbers that are quite different from that of Integrated Science. The grades A1-C6 were made by 257,838, which makes up (75.43%) of the student population and that is indicative of good performance. Students who made grades D7-E8 were (15.50%) 52,983; whiles (9.06%) 30,970 failed the subject.
ANALYSIS
The Integrated Science results showed significant improvements over 2018’s result. The percentage of those who passed in 2018 was 50.52% as compared to that of 2019 which was 63.17% making a 12.65% increase in number of passing students. This is good and is indicative of the fact that the teachers are doing something right. Many students, especially those offering the art related courses fear mathematics and science and that presents a challenge to its teaching and learning.
Students should be encouraged to learn very hard and more so, the subject has to be demystified to the students. Models, pictures, charts and other graphic modes of teaching should be encouraged by the Ghana education Service and the Heads of the various schools. This will make it easier for students to fully comprehend all the necessary concepts and facts. This will eventually help the students in the long run when they are making career choices.
The social studies results showed some improvement over the last year’s edition. Last year has the pass rate of 73.27% whiles that for this year is 75.43% and that marks 2.16% increase in the pass rate. This is a good feat for the Ghana Education Service and the various schools as well as the parents. In spite of the good pass, there is the need to get the pass rate to as high as 80%-85% so that we get more students who understand themselves and their environment.
Social Studies teachers have done and are doing a great job in making the students relate well to the Social Studies. More needs to be done in making the students confident of their knowledge of these issues as that will help the students make more passes, and be good members of society.
