WASSCE 2026: Gov’t prioritises your education, now excel in return – Dr. Apaak to candidates

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has urged candidates sitting this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to repay the government’s investment in education through academic excellence.

The Deputy Minister made the call during a monitoring visit to St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School and Labone Senior High School on Tuesday to assess the conduct of the ongoing examinations.

Addressing students at Labone SHS, Dr. Apaak said the government had invested significantly in their education and expected strong results in return.

“So we expect a favour in return, which is for you to excel, to justify the investment that the government is making to ensure that you get through your secondary education and then to be able to proceed to the next level,” he said.

He noted that improving access to education remained a priority for the government and pointed to recent gains in student welfare as evidence of that commitment.

“I just want to wish you well and to let you know that the government prioritises your education,” he told the candidates.

Dr. Apaak said conditions in schools had improved compared to previous years, particularly with the supply of food to students.

“If for nothing at all, we know that feeding is no longer a challenge. Madam Headmistress would agree with me that these days we don’t even have places to store the food,” he said.

The Deputy Minister encouraged the students to remain focused as they progressed through the examinations, urging them to maintain the same determination they demonstrated at the start.

“It is our expectation that the way you started, you would finish with the same level of energy, same level of passion, same level of commitment, and indeed hard work,” he stated.

He also assured the candidates that the examination questions were drawn from topics they had already studied and encouraged them to apply their knowledge effectively.

“These are topics and subject areas that you are familiar with. I think what is required is for you to think a lot more critically and deeply so that you can apply the knowledge,” he said.

Dr. Apaak expressed confidence that the candidates would perform well and continue the strong academic tradition of their schools.

The 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for School Candidates is currently underway across Ghana and other member countries of the West African Examinations Council. More than half a million candidates are taking part in the examinations, which began in mid-May and are expected to end in mid-June.