Recent data from the 2025 WASSCE results and tertiary admissions monitoring has sparked significant concern across the national education sector. Projections for the 2025/26 academic year indicate a sharp decline in student enrollment, highlighting a growing crisis in the transition from secondary to tertiary education.
Sharp Drop in Admissions
Preliminary figures suggest that only approximately 160,000 students are expected to gain admission this year. This represents a substantial decrease from the 195,000 students admitted during the previous academic cycle.
Financial Barriers Over Performance
In a statement released on Friday, January 16, Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) clarified that the issue extends beyond academic performance. A significant number of qualified applicants are currently holding admission letters but remain at home because they cannot afford the required tuition fees. This comes even as lectures for the new semester have already commenced.
Potential Impact on National Transition Rates
Eduwatch has cautioned that without immediate intervention, the national tertiary transition rate is at risk of falling:
- 2024/25 Transition Rate: Approximately 40%
- Projected 2025/26 Rate: Approximately 35%
If these projections hold, it would mark one of the lowest transition rates recorded in the past decade.
Call for Immediate Action
The organization is urging the Ministry of Finance to release funds immediately to absorb the fees of students currently unable to enroll. Eduwatch emphasized that such a move could still allow several thousand additional admissions to be recorded.
The statement noted that the risks associated with these reduced admission numbers have been communicated to authorities since November 2025, and decisive measures are now required to ensure financial constraints do not deny students access to higher education.
Source: Eduwatch
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