Kofi Asare Links Decline in Exam Performance to Inadequate Preparation and Teaching Methods

Kofi Asare, the Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, has attributed the recent decline in exam performance to inadequate preparation and a mismatch between teaching methods and exam expectations. He argued that the public's concerns about the results are valid and should spark further discussions on the quality of education.

Speaking on *Metro TV* in an interview monitored by *MyNewsGh*, Asare emphasized the importance of addressing gaps in education when exam results fall short. “It’s important to have conversations around the performance of students in exams. When results are poor, we discuss them and identify where improvements are needed,” he said.

According to early feedback from an ongoing survey conducted by Africa Education Watch, the primary issue is under-preparation. Asare noted that many senior high school teachers cited poor preparation as the leading cause of the performance decline. “One headmaster shared with me that this year’s exam questions were more applied, but many students are used to recall-type questions,” he explained.

Asare pointed out that the applied nature of the questions required skills like comprehension, analysis, and interpretation—skills that students had not adequately prepared for. “When you prepare for ABC and then face DF, it indicates inadequate preparation,” he added.

He also highlighted that this lack of analytical readiness was evident across various subjects, particularly in mathematics. Referring to WAEC's initial observations, Asare mentioned that challenges faced by students included problems with understanding the questions, making deductions from real-life situations, and interpreting results from cumulative frequency.

In addition, Asare raised concerns about teacher welfare, noting that the lack of payment for extra instructional hours could be impacting teachers' motivation and, in turn, student performance. “Teachers have not been paid for extra hours worked since last year. It’s crucial that GES prioritizes paying teachers for the extra work they put in, as it directly contributes to their motivation and the quality of instruction,” he stressed.

*Source: MyNewsGh.com*