A University of Ghana lecturer criticizes WAEC for including King Paluta’s Twi-language song Aseda in the 2025 BECE Creative Arts exam, calling it culturally biased and unfair to non-Akan-speaking candidates.
UG Expert Questions WAEC’s Use of King Paluta’s Aseda in BECE
A Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Paul Kwame Butakor, has raised serious concerns about a question in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) that featured King Paluta’s hit Twi-language song, Aseda.
Appearing on the Asaase Breakfast Show hosted by Kwaku Nhyira Addo, Dr Butakor—an expert in assessment, measurement and evaluation—described the exam item as “culturally biased” and unfair to non-Akan-speaking students.
Language Barrier Disadvantages Non-Twi Speakers
Dr Butakor argued that the question posed in Question 4(c) of the BECE Creative Arts paper, which asked students to identify two social issues addressed in Aseda, discriminates based on language.
“If you look at this song, most of the words are in Twi. Are we saying that everybody in Ghana understands Twi?” he questioned.
“This is cultural bias. If you don’t understand the language, you can’t answer the question. The student fails not because they lack knowledge, but because of a language barrier,” he emphasized.
WAEC Responds: Song Was Part of Syllabus Resources
In response, Mr. John Kapi, the Head of Public Affairs at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), defended the inclusion of the song. He claimed that all resource materials used to set the BECE had been distributed to schools ahead of time.
“WAEC cannot continuously set questions outside the curriculum and expect students to perform well,” Mr Kapi admitted. “But in this case, the materials were made available for schools to use in preparation.”
However, some teachers have expressed frustration with what they describe as poor alignment between the curriculum and assessment content, especially when modern songs are included without standardization.
Public Reactions Spark Debate on Equity in Education
The inclusion of Aseda—a song by Thomas Adjei Wireko, popularly known as King Paluta, known for blending hip-hop, traditional rhythms, and storytelling—has sparked mixed reactions on social media.
Critics argue that its use in a national exam marginalizes students from non-Akan linguistic backgrounds, while others believe integrating contemporary music into Creative Arts assessments encourages cultural relevance.
Calls for Curriculum Review and Sensitivity
Dr Butakor’s comments have renewed calls for WAEC to review its assessment practices to reflect Ghana’s linguistic diversity and uphold fairness and inclusivity in public examinations.
“We must ask: What key educational value does the song serve in the national context? If it’s not in the textbooks and not universally taught, then it shouldn’t appear in the exams,” he insisted.
Related Links:
- WAEC BECE 2025 Guidelines for Creative Arts
- King Paluta’s Aseda Lyrics & Meaning Explained
- Ghana’s Language Policy in Basic Education: Are We Inclusive Enough?
Reported by: Ferdinand Ellis
Source: EducationGhana.org
Date: June 21, 2025
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