The Ministry of Basic Education in Sierra Leone has announced that a record-breaking 173,000 candidates have completed the entry process for the upcoming 2024 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

However, concerns have arisen as approximately 200 schools, representing over 30,000 candidates, have yet to upload their Continuous Assessment of Scores (CASS) to finalize their entry for the examination.

In response to this issue, the Ministry convened a large-scale meeting at Rokel School with all Principals and a representative from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to identify the underlying challenges and seek solutions. Despite these efforts, the problem, persisted, leading the Ministry to engage with the leadership of the Sierra Leone Teachers’ Union (SLTU) to gain insights directly from the principals themselves.

Following the discussions with SLTU, the Ministry crafted a comprehensive business case and submitted an official letter to the Head of WAEC, urging for the reopening of the portal to allow the remaining schools to complete the entry process for the 2024 WASSCE. The Ministry emphasized the importance of accommodating these schools to ensure that all eligible candidates have the opportunity to participate in the examination.

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However, some school leaders and teachers have expressed frustration towards the Ministry, attributing the challenges to a perceived lack of control over WAEC’s operations. The Ministry clarified that it does not possess direct authority over WAEC, especially concerning the administration of international at examinations like WASSCE. Instead, the Ministry’s role primarily involves fostering dialogue and engagement with WAEC to address issues collaboratively.

In an effort to enhance its oversight and influence over WAEC’s operations, the Ministry revealed plans to introduce a new WAEC Bill, replacing the existing legislation enacted in 1984. The proposed bill aims to grant the Ministry additional powers and regulatory authority over WAEC within the national education framework.

To advance this initiative, the Ministry has engaged with the Law Officers department to finalize the draft of the new WAEC Bill, setting the stage for legal consultations between Sierra Leonean and WAFC lawyers, Additionally, Sierra Leone is poised to assume leadership within WAEC in March, presenting a strategic opportunity for the country to address and rectify existing challenges in the examination process.

As the Ministry continues to navigate the complexities of coordinating the 2024 WASSCE enrollment process and advocating for enhanced governance mechanisms within WAEC, stakeholders remain hopeful that these collaborative efforts will result in a more streamlined and effective examination system for future cohorts of students in Sierra Leone.

Stay tuned for updates on the developments surrounding the 2024 WASSCE enrollment process and the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to address the outstanding issues impacting candidate participation.