At the start of the 2024/2025 academic year, Ghana’s secondary education sector saw a major reform with the introduction of a new SHS curriculum by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) and the Ghana Education Service (GES).

According to Prof Samuel Bekoe, “this curriculum aims to equip learners with 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and digital literacy while also promoting core Ghanaian values and inclusivity.”

A crucial part of ensuring that the new curriculum achieves its goals lies not only in teaching and learning but also in how learners are assessed. As part of this reform, a significant change has been introduced through a new approach to assessment - the Student Transcript Portal (STP).

A New Approach to Assessment

The new curriculum promotes a balanced and holistic approach to assessment. It encourages varied and differentiated methods that go beyond traditional exams.

Internal assessments now include formative assessments such as portfolios, performance tasks, and project work, along with summative assessments like end-of-term examinations. In addition, there will be an external assessment, a comprehensive summative evaluation to be conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) at the end of the third year.

Supporting this shift is the introduction of the Student Transcript Portal (STP), which serves as the central platform for recording and managing these new forms of assessment.

The Student Transcript System/Portal (STP)

The Student Transcript System (STP) is a centralised repository for learner information that provides a comprehensive record of each student’s academic performance and character qualities.

It contains key details such as learner bio-data, semester information, learning areas, subject combinations, assigned classes, continuous assessment records, credit hours, grades, Grade Point Averages (GPAs), and Cumulative Grade Point Averages (CGPAs). Additionally, it includes a qualitative section that captures brief descriptions of each learner’s character qualities over time.

The introduction of the STP represents a major leap forward in Ghana’s effort to reform secondary education. As Ghana builds a globally competitive education system, innovations like the STP lay the foundation for a new generation of learners who are confident, capable, and ready for the future.

According to Lawrence Dogbatse, Deputy Registrar of WAEC, “This new curriculum reflects WAEC’s strong commitment to transforming traditional assessment methods. We are moving beyond exam-based evaluation to incorporate project work, practical applications, and critical thinking. The introduction of the Student Transcript Portal (STP) is a key part of this shift, as it ensures that every aspect of a learner’s growth, not just test scores, is recognised and valued.”

Benefits for Stakeholders

For learners, the STP encourages consistency and active engagement, knowing that every group project or values-based activity contributes to their academic profile. It promotes intrinsic motivation and moves away from the old “chew, pour, pass, forget” mentality.

For parents, it provides a fuller picture of their child’s strengths and areas for improvement. Instead of seeing only grades, parents can now see how their child participates in class, leads discussions, and develops problem-solving skills.

For teachers and schools, the system offers clear guidelines, rubrics, and technology-enabled tools that make assessments more accurate and fair. This helps teachers tailor support to the diverse needs of learners, including students with disabilities or special needs.

For tertiary institutions and employers, the STP gives access to a rich dataset that goes beyond academic scores. It highlights competencies such as leadership, ethics, and teamwork — skills that are highly valued in the real world.

Broader Significance

Speaking on the importance of the STP, Mr. Prince Agyemang-Duah, Director of Schools and Instruction at GES, explained, “Learning is not just about what students can memorise and reproduce in a two-hour paper. It’s about how they think, collaborate, create, and apply knowledge to real-world situations.

The Student Transcript Portal enables us to document this broader learning experience. It ensures that students are recognised for the full range of their efforts. This is how we nurture confident, competent, and future-ready graduates.”

He added that, in line with the ambitions of the new SHS curriculum, the STP is redefining how learning is measured — shifting from rote memorisation to real-life application, inclusivity, and personal growth.

A Shift in Assessment Philosophy

The new curriculum champions a balanced approach to assessment, giving internal evaluations such as portfolios, project work, and practicals equal importance alongside external exams.

According to Mr. Lawrence Dogbatse from WAEC, “While WAEC still conducts final assessments, its methods have evolved to measure higher-order thinking. Only 30% of the exam now assesses factual recall, while 70% evaluates critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication.”

As Ghana embarks on this transformative educational journey, it is essential for all stakeholders — teachers, parents, and students — to embrace the shift toward a future-ready curriculum.