John Kapi, Head of Public Affairs at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), has described English Language as a continuing problem for students as performance in the subject dropped from 69.52% in 2024 to 69% in 2025 and 62.46% in 2026.
“English is a problem. It’s still a problem, comparatively,” Kapi said on Morning Starr on Starr FM.
He said students, teachers and other stakeholders must make a deliberate effort to improve performance in the subject.
Kapi urged students to develop strong reading habits from the beginning of senior high school. He said they should read for pleasure and not only when preparing for examinations.
According to him, regular reading helps students improve their comprehension, vocabulary and ability to express themselves.
He also raised concern about the use of shortened language on platforms such as WhatsApp, saying some candidates have carried such expressions into their examination scripts.
Kapi identified subject-verb agreement, comprehension and summary writing as some of the areas where candidates continue to struggle. He said some students also copy portions of passages instead of expressing their answers in their own words.
He called for regular tests and exercises for students, as well as periodic in-service training for teachers, particularly when there are changes to the curriculum or syllabus.
Kapi added that Mathematics, Integrated Science and Social Studies recorded slight improvements this year, unlike English Language, which continued to decline.
