At the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MOIC) weekly press conference, the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, addressed key issues affecting the education sector, particularly the registration process for the upcoming West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Sackey highlighted the government’s efforts to support students who were unable to take the WASSCE in previous years. He noted that in the past, these students were allowed to take the exam through private centers, with financial assistance from the government.
However, he emphasized that a new system is now in place, requiring students to have their Continuous Assessment Scores (CAS) uploaded as part of their final grade.
Unlike previous years when CAS was submitted only after the exams, the updated process ensures that CAS contributes 30% of the final grade before students are allowed to sit for WASSCE.
This year, 163,797 students from 892 schools have registered for WASSCE, marking an increase from last year’s 147,000 candidates. However, Sackey revealed that 880 schools failed to meet the deadline for submitting their CAS 2 grades, leaving 12 schools unable to upload their students’ scores on time.
He stressed the importance of meeting the February 7, 2025 deadline for WASSCE registration and called on the public to hold schools accountable for completing the process.
The Minister also warned that schools failing to upload CAS grades will face serious penalties.
Government schools that fail to comply will be subject to a six-month suspension without salary, while private schools risk losing their licenses if they fail to employ qualified staff. “The focus of education is accountability,” Sackey asserted.
In closing, the Minister commended stakeholders in Bombali for their support during Education Week and encouraged continued collaboration to improve education standards and ensure student success.