Umaru Fofana Calls For Action as Over 100,000 Students Fail English in 2023 WASSCE

Sierra Leonean Journalist and reporter for the British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) has raised concern over the massive failure of candidates for the English Language at the West African Senior Secondary School Examination (WASSCE).

His comments come just a day after the Minister of Basic And Senior Secondary School Education (MBSSE), Conrad Sackey announced the release of the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) where 105,924 candidates obtained credit grades or better in at least five subjects, including mathematics, but did not obtain credit in English Language.

It was also reported that 34,525 results were withheld while another 6,658 had no results as they were absent from all subjects.

Addressing the situation, Fofona urged key educational institutions, including the West African Examination Council, The Sierra Leone Teachers Union, The Teaching Service Commission, and The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, to engage in a constructive dialogue. They should analyze the consistent underperformance in English Language, aiming to identify the root causes of this enduring challenge in Sierra Leone.

“WAEC, SLTU, TSC and MBSSE should have a conference to discuss English Language as a subject, and why for more than a decade it continues to be such an albatross around the neck of the majority of WASSCE candidates in Sierra Leone. Is it the fault of the candidates or is something fundamentally wrong with the teaching of English? What can be done to ameliorate the situation? Let the convo begin please.” He said.

Comment(s)

Disclaimer: Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Sierraloaded or any employee thereof.

| 2023-10-04 21:24:12

What was the language that the candidates use to write the exam and pass in other subjects and in which language did the examination office use to drow question?
| 2023-10-04 16:28:04

This is really hilarious for some of we that got passed on English language We got good grades on other subjects and we're writing in English so why now According should look into this matter because in my own opinion it's the fault of waec body they give us a question and them they change their marking scheme It's too bad for some of us Mr minister we're pleading to give us a second chance to resit the 2024 wassce exams because we're hearing that the portal's have already closed please sir help us Mr minister
Williams Allan | 2023-10-04 16:07:49

It is not surprising that so many students fail to obtain a pass mark or credit in English. Failure to grasp the language is evident in all aspects of the society. Teachers who cannot speak English, reporters using incorrect grammar, politicians clutching air looking for the correct words to express themselves,Nurses who cannot articulate their words, the list goes on. If society does nothing to address this, some of these results will not have any realistic value.
| 2023-10-04 13:55:44

The question here is how can you effectively teach something you don't know yourself. You only need to engage most of the Principals and teachers to know that spoken English is a taboo for them. In our days in school we got black badges if caught speaking creol, but now it has become the official language and English is being relegated to the bins. Let's face it the Education system in this country has fallen to an all time low
Issa Kamara | 2023-10-04 13:37:48

I went to scratch mine And they said mine is unavailable I’m confused right now
| 2023-10-04 13:33:10

That is the fact sir why some of us pass others subjects but not English language and are writing it in English also. I really really don't understand wassc and they even hold on thousands of results now first in the history...
| 2023-10-04 13:29:25

It's really sad 😭 for us this year and we don't even know what is happening with our education sectors department official they're the cause of this mysterious failure we have currently in this country!.
| 2023-10-04 13:06:07

In my thoughts, most teachers claiming or assuming to teach English didn't read English at university, who lack the mechanics and methodologies to teach English.
| 2023-10-04 13:02:17

The students in Sierra Leone or Sierra Leone in general speaks creo /krio and as a result they don't care about English language.
| 2023-10-04 13:00:33

Most of the results that was withheld the students are innocent I problem here is some schools authorities were caught trassing even the students that the were doing that for them they didn't fall vectim of it, so we are pleading to mr minister for him to release the withheld results earlier at least one month because most of the students are innocent it because their schools were among the list
| 2023-10-04 12:09:22

I wander what language these students are writing in the exams(WASCE),if it was not English language. Why are students passing other subjects that were written in English, but not the English it self?Just my thoughts.