MONROVIA, LIBERIA – August 15, 2025The 2025 WASSCE results have exposed a staggering national failure in Liberia’s education system. A mere 822 students out of 51,719 passed with credits in five core subjects, including English, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, and one elective. This alarming statistic translates to 98.44% of students failing to meet graduation requirements.

The subject-wise performance was equally concerning. English Language saw a 58.77% pass rate, while Economics plummeted to 38.52%. Chemistry fared slightly better at 64.31%, and Geography achieved a 62.18% pass rate. Physics, however, was abysmal with only 39.30% passing. Literature recorded a 61.48% pass rate, and History emerged as the sole subject with strong results, boasting an 87.41% pass rate.

Subject-wise Performance:

English Language: 52,020 sat | 30,571 passed | 21,449 failed (58.77% pass rate)

Economics: 50,622 sat | 19,500 passed | 31,122 failed (38.52% pass rate)

Chemistry: 46,613 sat | 29,976 passed | 16,637 failed (64.31% pass rate)

Geography: 51,284 sat | 31,890 passed | 19,394 failed (62.18% pass rate)

Physics: 46,653 sat | 18,336 passed | 28,317 failed (39.30% pass rate)

Literature: 47,962 sat | 29,486 passed | 18,476 failed (61.48% pass rate)

History: 48,062 sat | 42,011 passed | 6,051 failed (87.41% pass rate – highest)

Analysis:

1. English Language: With only 58.77% passing, nearly half of the students are unable to master the fundamental language of instruction, undermining overall academic competence.
2. Economics: Only 38.52% passed, signaling a severe deficiency in financial literacy and comprehension of economic concepts among students.
3. Chemistry: A 64.31% pass rate shows some competence in the sciences, but nearly 36% failure highlights gaps in laboratory skills and conceptual understanding.
4. Geography: 62.18% passed, indicating moderate comprehension of environmental and societal studies, yet almost 40% failed.
5. Physics: With a 39.30% pass rate, physics demonstrates a catastrophic failure in critical scientific reasoning, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
6. Literature: 61.48% passed, suggesting an average grasp of literary analysis and critical thinking, but the failure of 38.52% is concerning for cultural and cognitive development.
7. History: The only subject with strong results at 87.41%, showing that rote memorization may have succeeded where understanding and application in other subjects failed.

Overall Assessment:

Critical Failure in Core Subjects: Physics and Economics show dangerously low pass rates, undermining STEM and economic literacy.

Uneven Performance: History is an outlier of success; all other subjects show widespread failure.

Systemic Breakdown: The results indicate a collapse in teaching standards, inadequate student preparation, and poor educational oversight under Boakai’s administration.