Barclayville City, Grand Kru County – September 1, 2025-The interim principal of Barclayville Central High School, Mr. Johnny Toe, has pledged a renewed commitment to strengthen students’ performance in Mathematics and English following what he described as a “deeply troubling” outcome in the recent West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Mr. Toe disclosed that of the 86 candidates who sat the 2024–2025 exams, 85 failed Mathematics, while results in English were similarly poor. “This is a matter of urgent concern. These two subjects form the backbone of education and career advancement, and we cannot allow such gaps to continue,” he told reporters over the weekend.
Despite the alarming statistics in the two core subjects, Mr. Toe praised students for recording broader success in other areas. He highlighted that some candidates passed as many as eight subjects, while others achieved between four and seven passes. According to him, seven students passed four subjects, 14 passed five, 38 passed six, 19 passed seven, and eight passed eight subjects. He noted that this marked a milestone for the school, as all candidates passed at least four subjects for the first time since the WASSCE was introduced in 2018.
Calling the achievement a “100% pass rate by our own standards,” the interim principal said the results showed progress but underscored the urgent need to address the recurring weakness in Mathematics and English.
To tackle the problem, Mr. Toe announced several interventions for the new academic year. Chief among them is the introduction of daily lessons in Mathematics and English to provide students with continuous exposure and reinforcement. He also committed to stronger monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure that both teachers and students remain accountable to the improvement plan.
Mr. Toe appealed to both students and faculty members to demonstrate greater commitment, stressing that education is a collective responsibility. “We must all work harder—students, teachers, parents, and administrators—to ensure that our children are not only passing but excelling in the subjects that matter most,” he emphasized.
While acknowledging the setbacks, the interim principal expressed optimism that with dedicated effort, the school can significantly raise its standard and prepare students more effectively for future examinations.
“Barclayville Central High is determined to turn this challenge into an opportunity for growth. We want to ensure that our students are not only counted among the passers but among the top performers across Grand Kru County and Liberia at large,” Mr. Toe concluded.
