NCTE unhappy with admission grading system for SSSCE candidates

Kumasi, July 5, GNA - The National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) has expressed concern about the practice where some tertiary institutions based their admission criteria on the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) grading system. A circular signed by Professor Mahama Duweijua, the Executive Secretary, said this was unfair. It said lumping together 93Grades C4, C5 and C6" of the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to make it become the equivalent of SSSCE 93Grade 4" would not ensure fairness in the admission process.

The circular said some institutions misinterpreted the aggregate score of 24 stated in the admission requirement to include SSSCE Grade E or WASSCE D7 or D8 provided the total aggregate score did not exceed the 24.

It drew attention to the fact that the SSSCE had been phased out and therefore, majority of the candidates would henceforth be WASSCE holders. To ensure fairness, avoid ambiguity in the admission process and cater for the interest of majority of candidates, the Council recommended that the SSSCE WASSCE results should be treated separately for admission purposes.

It stated that admission of candidates into tertiary institutions should be based on passes (A-D) in six (6) subjects comprising three (3) elective subjects for SSSCE candidates while WASSCE candidates should obtain credit passes (A1-C6) in six (6) subjects comprising three (3) core subjects including English, Mathematics and three (3) elective subjects.