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AYV News, September 25, 2024
As Sierra Leone’s students prepare to sit for the upcoming West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the Ministry of Basic and Senior Education (MBSSE) has sounded the alarm on a worrying trend of unethical practices within some schools.
At a press conference in Freetown, the ministry disclosed that 86,000 students are expected to take the exam this year, but serious concerns have been raised about the integrity of the process.
Deputy Minister II of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Mamusu Patricia Massaquoi of Basic and Senior Education, expressed frustration over schools that have failed to upload continuous assessment results, a critical requirement for students’ eligibility to sit for the WASSCE.
Out of 700 schools, only 60 have complied with this requirement. Continuous assessments evaluating students’ performance are crucial for maintaining fairness in the educational system.
“This lack of compliance is unacceptable”, the Deputy Minister stated. “We have given schools ample time to submit the necessary documents, but it seems some institutions are manipulating the system, which will not be tolerated”.
The ministry revealed shocking reports of some school heads submitting the same student’s name to multiple schools to game the system. This manipulation puts the integrity of the WASSCE at risk, and the ministry has vowed to take strict action against those found guilty of these unethical practices.
The ministry reiterated that students must pass the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) before they can sit for the WASSCE, emphasizing the policy: “No BECE, No WASSCE”. Schools failing to submit continuous assessments will jeopardize their students’ futures, as students will not be allowed to take the exam without the required documents.
The MBSSE, in collaboration with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), is taking steps to ensure transparency in the examination process. The ministry has promised to thoroughly vet all submitted results before the WASSCE begins to guarantee that only eligible students take the exam.
The Deputy Minister assured the public that the government is committed to maintaining the integrity of the educational system. “We owe it to our children to ensure a fair and just system. Any school or headteacher found manipulating the process will face serious consequences”, he warned.
