In a public notice issued on December 13, 2023, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education has announced a significant policy change regarding the payment of examination fees for repeaters of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Sierra Leone.

Effective from the year 2024, the government will no longer bear the examination fees for repeaters, a decision communicated to the general public, with a focus on students, parents, guardians, and school authorities/leaders. This decision marks a departure from the 2018 commitment where the government pledged to enhance the country’s human capital through inclusive and equitable access to education.

The Free Quality School Education (FQSE) Programme, launched in 2018, aimed to cover essential costs of formal and non-formal school education. This included subsidies for school fees and examination fees for students in government and government-assisted schools. Initially, the concession covered first-time repeaters as well, serving as a goodwill gesture to alleviate financial burdens on parents and guardians.

However, the Ministry has expressed dismay over the misuse of this concession, particularly by school authorities allowing individuals aged 35-50 years to register for these exams. This irresponsible behavior not only brought embarrassment to the government but also had implications for the integrity of the entire examination process. Consequently, the government has decided to revoke the policy of covering examination fees for repeaters.

A noteworthy exception to this policy reversal is the provision of preferential concession for candidates with registered and verified disabilities. Repeater candidates wishing to sit for the WASSCE in 2024 and beyond are now required to register for the Private WASSCE at their own individual cost.

Despite this change, the public is assured that the government, under the Free Quality School Education Programme (FQSE), remains committed to covering core costs such as school fees subsidies, examination fees for regular candidates in the National Primary School Examination (NPSE), Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), and WASSCE classes. Additionally, the government will continue providing Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) to schools, as well as diet provisions to Government Boarding Schools and school feeding programs.

School authorities are strongly urged to comply with this policy change, and non-compliance may result in appropriate sanctions. The government’s commitment to education, while evolving, remains steadfast in ensuring access and quality education for all.