A total of 461,640 final-year senior high school (SHS) students across Ghana are set to sit for this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates (SCs), which officially begins today, Monday, August 4, with practical project work in various Art and Design subjects.
The candidates comprise 207,381 males and 254,259 females, reflecting a slight increase of 1,029 candidates compared to the 460,611 who sat for the examination last year.
This year’s WASSCE marks the fourth cohort of Ghanaian students taking the Ghana-only version of the exam. This arrangement has remained in place since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 prompted a shift in the academic calendar.
Meanwhile, the other member countries of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia, have since reverted to the traditional May/June WASSCE schedule.
From today, candidates will begin with project work in Basketry, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Jewellery, Leatherwork, and other practical subjects. These practicals are scheduled to continue through to Friday, 22nd August 2025.
The examination will be held across 701 centres, with candidates drawn from an equal number of SHSs. Supervising the process will be 701 supervisors, 1,391 assistant supervisors, and a total of 15,391 invigilators, ensuring the smooth and fair conduct of the exams nationwide.
Regional Breakdown
The Ashanti Region leads with the highest number of candidates, totalling 115,982 (52,813 males and 63,169 females), followed by the Eastern Region with 64,225 (28,024 males and 36,201 females).
The Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions collectively have 61,773 candidates (27,560 males and 34,213 females), while the Central Region presents 53,738 candidates (23,090 males and 30,648 females).
In the Greater Accra Region, 45,877 candidates will sit the exams (20,948 males and 24,929 females), while the Volta and Oti regions have a combined 35,539 candidates (16,729 males and 18,810 females).
The Western and Western North regions will present 33,121 candidates (14,156 males and 18,965 females), and the Northern, North-East, and Savannah regions will see 29,652 students taking part (14,712 males and 14,940 females).
The Upper East Region has 13,976 candidates (5,918 males and 8,058 females), and the Upper West Region rounds off the list with 7,757 candidates (3,431 males and 4,326 females).
Government Covers Practical Fees
In a related development, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has disbursed GH¢15,849,920 across the country to cover the costs of practical examinations for all WASSCE candidates.
According to a press release signed by Daniel Fenyi, Head of Public Relations at the GES, the funds are to ensure that all schools are adequately equipped with materials and resources necessary for the practical components of the examination.
“The government remains committed to easing the financial burden on parents and guardians, while enabling students to fully focus on their academic performance,” the statement said.
The 2025 WASSCE for School Candidates officially begins today, Monday, 4th August 2025, with the practical sessions leading the exam calendar. Written papers are expected to follow in the coming weeks.
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