The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) has announced that over 7,450 candidates have been left out of the 2023 WASSC examination due to the negligence of school leaders and principals who failed to register their eligible students before the portal closed on 31st March 2023.

The MBSSE called on school leaders, parents and candidates to take note of the press release issued on 11th April 2023, which announced the re-opening of the registration portal for the fourth time.

The ministry explained that the fourth re-opening was due to its engagement with the West African Examination Council (WAEC) international, which provided a last window of opportunity for school leaders to register their candidates.

The MBSSE also assured the public that the government remains committed to paying public examination fees for eligible candidates at all levels, including NPSE, BECE, and WASSCE.

However, school leaders who neglected their responsibilities and left out eligible candidates should bear the responsibility for their students’ inability to write the exams.

The statement also highlighted that out of the 228,171 candidates presented to WAEC, only 220,721 were registered for the 2023 exams.

The ministry called on the affected candidates and their parents/guardians to remain calm and trust the government’s judgment in handling the matter.

It is essential to note that the West African Examination Council is an international examination body established by law in five-member West African countries, including Sierra Leone. The registration portal is exclusively managed by WAEC international and not Sierra Leone.

The MBSSE has warned that any individual or group of individuals who undermine the government’s efforts to provide education to its citizens will face the full force of the law. The affected candidates and their families are urged to cooperate with the ministry and WAEC to ensure that the issue is resolved satisfactorily.