By Michael Pepsin Avorgah
Aflao (V/R), Sept. 15, GNA — Mr Alex Aluwoe, Ketu South Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), has called for collective efforts to improve academic performance, saying teachers alone cannot be blamed for candidates’ 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
He said the performance should serve as a wake-up call for parents, teachers, students, religious leaders and the Government to reassess their respective roles in the education of children and work together to improve learning outcomes.
Mr Aluwoe, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said although teachers were directly involved in classroom instruction, the academic development of children was also influenced by parental supervision, learning conditions, infrastructure and students’ commitment.
He said some parents were not providing basic necessities that could make their wards comfortable and ready to learn at school, while others left their children without adequate supervision on the assumption that teachers alone were responsible for their education.
He therefore urged parents to take a more active interest in their children’s education by monitoring their studies, ensuring regular attendance, providing necessary learning materials, and maintaining communication with teachers and schools.
Mr Aluwoe also called for increased investment in school infrastructure and teacher recruitment to create better conditions for effective teaching and learning.
He acknowledged that the Government was undertaking several interventions in education but said more attention was needed to address infrastructure challenges and teacher shortages.
He said overcrowded classrooms made it difficult for teachers to give individual attention to pupils and effectively monitor their progress.
According to him, a situation where a single teacher had to handle more than 60 pupils at a time could affect supervision and make it difficult to identify and respond to individual students’ learning needs.
He therefore called for the recruitment of more teachers and improvement in classroom infrastructure to reduce pressure on teachers and create an environment conducive to learning.
The GNAT Chairman also urged students to take their lessons seriously and make effective use of the opportunities provided by their teachers.
He said teachers in the classrooms were trained to support students to achieve their academic potential, but their efforts would yield limited results if students failed to attend lessons regularly, pay attention, and study outside the classroom.
Mr Aluwoe encouraged students to ask questions when they did not understand lessons, complete assignments, revise regularly, and avoid distractions that could affect their studies.
He said improving educational outcomes required cooperation among all stakeholders rather than placing the entire responsibility on teachers.
Mr Aluwoe said the reported performance of candidates in the 2026 BECE should encourage stakeholders to identify weaknesses in the education system and address them collectively.
He urged religious and community leaders to support parents in promoting discipline and positive attitudes towards education, while calling on the Government to continue addressing teacher shortages and infrastructure gaps.
Reports on the 2026 BECE indicate that about 50,000 candidates did not meet the requirements for placement into Senior High Schools (SHSs) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTSs).
The reports, attributed to the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) Secretariat, indicate that candidates who failed either English Language or Mathematics were disqualified from placement, irrespective of their performance in other subjects.
The reported figures also indicate that about 620,000 candidates sat for the examination, with approximately 107,000, representing 17 per cent, recording aggregates between six and 18.
About 252,000 candidates, representing 35 per cent, reportedly recorded aggregates between six and 24.
Mr Aluwoe said such outcomes should prompt stakeholders to focus on practical measures to improve teaching and learning rather than assigning blame.
He said stronger parental supervision, improved learning conditions, adequate infrastructure, sufficient teaching staff and greater commitment from students could collectively contribute to better educational outcomes.
“Everyone has a role to play. Leaving the burden alone on teachers cannot solve the problem,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Audrey Dekalu