Zero Corruption Campaign-Sierra Leone (ZCC-SL)in collaboration with Children and Youth for Peace Agency-Sierra Leone (CYPA-SL) has in a press release called on the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education to put a hold on NIN registration for the upcoming public examinations.

“The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), has set the National Identification Number (NIN) as a prerequisite for Candidates of the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

According to the Ministry, is part of the measures set to curb examination malpractices in the country, If a student has registered with the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) they will be easily spotted. Also, the NIN allocated to students will also curtail the habit of individuals taking the exams for other persons, etc.

Therefore, the above-named Civil Society Organizations hereby appreciate MBSSE for such an innovative idea set for the promotion of the fight against examination malpractice in the country to achieve the success of Free Quality Secondary School Education (FQSSE).

An outreach visitation has been done by the above-named institutions in educational communities to further enquire about the importance of establishing the NIN registration for Students taking Public Exams (NPSE, BECE AND WASSCE) and in the findings, lots of comments were made against the process because of untimeliness as the process will delay the educational rights of students more especially those that are supposed to sit to the coming public exams.

Given the above, ZCC-SL and CYPA-SL are calling on the attention of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education (MBSSE) to drop (hold on) the National Identification Number (NIN) for this Year’s WASSCE/Public examinations and request to take the following into considerations.

75% of Students engaged said that the introduction of NIN registration will not be good for pupils whose parents cannot afford much. if the system is implemented, it will open the door for so many school dropouts due to lack of money to pay for the private WASSChat, the ministry should realize that the cost of living is hard in the country before implementing such protocols.

that there should be massive education on the importance of NIN registration for candidates better understand candidates sitting for public exams.

That the ministry should engage in the registration of those students or pupils in the lower classes than those set to face the WASSCE exams.

That the ministry should consider the disadvantages involved as compared to the advantages as well”.