The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has explained its decision to use the hit song “Aseda” by award-winning Ghanaian rapper King Paluta as basis for a question in the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
This clarification comes in response to public criticism over the use of the song in Section B of the Music and Creative Arts paper. In Question 4(c), students were asked to identify two major social issues addressed in King Paluta’s popular track, “Aseda”.
Speaking on 3FM Sunrise with Johnnie Hughes on Wednesday, June 18, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, defended the decision.
He stated that students had been adequately prepared to handle such questions. “Language wouldn’t have been a barrier because teachers would have guided the students through it. In fact, the materials are provided to them ahead of time, giving them the opportunity to interpret and understand the content properly before the exam,” Kapi said.
Education think tank and Executive Director of the Institute for Education Studies, Dr. Peter Partey-Anti, questioned whether the song was included in the curriculum for learners.
“Is this song available in a textbook, and were all the students exposed to the content of this song before they were able to respond? I have had some interactions with teachers, and most of them have expressed frustration as to the alignment between the curriculum and the questions being set.
WAEC cannot continuously set questions outside the curriculum and expect students to perform well. I don’t think it is fair for them to do that.” He stated.
Similarly, Gapson Kofi Raphael, General Secretary of the National Council of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTA), also criticised WAEC’s justification.
“If WAEC says language is not a barrier, then I just don’t think he is being fair to us. Because we have so many languages in Ghana, why don’t you deal with people based on their background and their strengths so they can be able to address the questions that come to them?” Gapson Kofi Raphael questioned.
The final paper for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE)—Arabic (Essay & Objective) was written today, Wednesday, June 18, marking the official end of this year’s nationwide examination exercise.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has expressed satisfaction with the overall conduct of the exams, commending its team and stakeholders for ensuring a smooth process across the country despite a few logistical challenges.