By Amin Kef (Ranger)
During a Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MOIC) weekly Press Conference on Tuesday June 10, 2025, the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, delivered a comprehensive update on the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). He detailed the exam’s administration, challenges encountered and reforms being implemented to ensure academic integrity and inclusive education.
Highlighting the collaborative nature of the examination process, the Minister reminded the public that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is an international body comprising Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia and Liberia. “No one works in silo,” he emphasized, noting that all decisions regarding WAEC exams are made jointly among member states.
He outlined the critical role of Continuous Assessment Scores (CAS), which contribute 30% to a student’s final WASSCE result, with the remaining 70% coming from the actual examination.
For CAS-1 (SS1), 896 schools successfully submitted scores, while 84 failed to do so. These schools, he noted, would still be supported by the Government to access the private WAEC exam. CAS-2 (SS2) submissions saw 880 schools meet the deadline, with 12 failing to comply. As a result, six principals have been suspended and had their salaries withheld for six months, while the other six institutions were identified as ghost schools.
CAS-3 (SS3) saw improved compliance, with only 47 schools failing to submit scores. However, this shortfall will directly impact student grading in those schools.
Conrad Sackey reported that a total of 148,362 candidates—66,689 boys and 81,673 girls—from 886 schools registered for the 2025 WASSCE through the BRS system. These examinations are being conducted across 335 centres nationwide.
Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to inclusive education, the Minister highlighted special accommodations under the “Radical Inclusion” policy, including the provision of braille exam papers for visually impaired students and extended exam time for those with hearing impairments.
Despite the overall smooth conduct of the exams from April 24 to June 20, the Minister cited several concerns, including absenteeism, impersonation and the unauthorized use of mobile phones. He warned that such misconduct can result in severe penalties, including the seizure of results.
He also condemned the actions of school leaders found guilty of data manipulation and fake candidate entries, noting the financial loss and reputational damage those practices cause to the education system. In response, the Ministry has imposed stricter submission timelines for future assessments and launched comprehensive investigations into the irregularities. Strong disciplinary actions have been promised for offenders.
Conrad Sackey concluded by stressing that upholding the integrity of the WASSCE is a shared national responsibility, urging all stakeholders, parents, educators, students and the public to play their part in safeguarding the credibility of Sierra Leone’s education system.
