Liberia’s education system is facing its most severe setback in years. Out of 51,719 candidates who sat for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), only 822 students; a staggering 1.6% obtained credits in at least five subjects including English and Mathematics.
A Steep Fall from Recent Progress
Just two years ago, Liberia was trending upward. In 2023, commentaries and educational analyses indicated that approximately 45.5% of students passed English, while only 29.4% passed Mathematics, a far cry from today’s collapse.
For a broader regional view, look at Nigeria’s WASSCE trend: after improvements in 2021 (81.7%) and modest dip in 2022 (76.4%), performance deteriorated further in 2024 to around 72.1% of students passing five credits including English and Math. Liberia’s current 1.6% is not just a drop; it’s a plunge.
The Figures in Context
- 2023 (Liberia): English pass rate ~ 45.5%; Math pass rate ~ 29.4%.
- 2025 (Liberia): Only 822 candidates passed at least five subjects, including English and Math; out of 51,719 examinees.
Voices from the System
At the August 15 press conference announcing the 2025 results, WAEC Liberia Head Mr. Dale G. Gbotoe attempted to frame the numbers as “encouraging improvements” in foundational exams. But the data tells a more damning story.
Educator Chris Tokpah criticized what he sees as systemic deception. Commenting on past results, he warned:
“WAEC Liberia must stop playing politics with the future of our children… You cannot solve a problem if you refuse to admit that the problem exists.”
A Growing Credibility Crisis
Further harming the credibility of these results is the revelation that 1,944 candidates’ scores are being withheld due to suspected malpractice, double the number withheld in 2024 (725).
“This ongoing pattern of suspected misconduct from mass score similarities to withheld results, tells us that the institution itself is in danger,” Janga Sheriff commenting, not mincing words about the extent of the crisis.
What This Means
If these numbers hold, a generation of Liberian students will be effectively barred from tertiary education and competitive employment. The contrast between 2023 and 2025 is not just about figures it’s about a system unraveling before our eyes.
Moving Forward
As stakeholders scramble to understand what went wrong, the focus must shift from spin to substance:
- Accurate reporting: If only a fraction of students are certificate-ready, WAEC and the Ministry must acknowledge that.
- Systemic reform: Teacher training, exam integrity, and infrastructure need urgent overhaul not just cosmetic additions like new subjects.
- Transparency and trust: The credibility of Liberia’s education institutions is on the line. Without trust, all numbers no matter how positive-sounding will be met with skepticism.
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