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David Baidoo-Anu, Assistant Professor, Frazer Faculty of Education, Ontario Tech University

Cultural bias in west Africa’s school-leaver exam questions puts many students at a disadvantage

Emmanuel Ikwuegbu/Unsplash, CC BY

The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is a high-stakes test. For decades, it has served as the gateway to post-secondary education across five countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia. But is it fair?

David Baidoo-Anu and Monsurat Raji say their research shows that cultural bias in exam questions can put students at a disadvantage. This happens through language, contexts and examples. It raises questions about what counts as “ability” in standardised testing.

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