The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has defended its decision to use lyrics from King Paluta’s hit song “Aseda” in the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), following public criticism over its relevance and fairness.
In the Music and Creative Arts paper, Section B, Question 4(c) asked students to identify two major social issues reflected in “Aseda”, sparking debate about the appropriateness of referencing a contemporary rap song in a national exam.
Speaking on 3FM’s Sunrise show with Johnnie Hughes on Wednesday, June 18, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, insisted that the question was both legitimate and accessible.
“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 explained.
However, not everyone is convinced. Education policy analyst and Executive Director of the Institute for Education Studies, Dr. Peter Partey-Anti, questioned the pedagogical foundation of the question, raising concerns over curriculum alignment.
“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?” Dr. Partey-Anti asked. “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.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Gapson Kofi Raphael, General Secretary of the National Council of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTA), took issue with WAEC’s claim that language wasn’t a barrier.
“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?” he argued.
Meanwhile, the 2025 BECE concluded on Wednesday, June 18, with students writing the Arabic (Essay & Objective) paper. Despite minor logistical issues, WAEC expressed satisfaction with the overall conduct of the exams and praised the coordination efforts of stakeholders nationwide.
The use of “Aseda” may have sparked controversy, but WAEC maintains it was within its educational mandate and insists the question was fair and well-supported through pre-examination material distribution.
