MP Questions Minister Over WASSCE Controversy
Member of Parliament Abdul Karim Kamara has sharply questioned the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, regarding government spending on the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the withholding of thousands of student results.
Speaking during Thursday's parliamentary session, Kamara pressed the Minister for transparency, emphasizing that the integrity of the nation's educational assessment framework transcends political divisions.
Key financial details were requested, including government spending per candidate relative to private applicants, rental fees paid by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for school facilities, and standard rates for paper marking.
"Mr. Minister, can you tell us the cost the government is paying for WASSCE candidates and the cost per private WASSCE candidates, and tell us what WAEC is paying for rental of schools where these exams are being taken, and how much WAEC is paying for marking each of these papers?" Kamara asked.
The MP also pointed to discrepancies in candidate records, noting that figures cited by President Julius Maada Bio differed from Ministry statistics by nearly the total number of withheld results.
Specifically, Kamara highlighted the contrast between the President's stated total of 179,006 candidates and the Ministry's reported figure of 210,000, asking direct clarification on student payment coverage.
Beyond candidate entry discrepancies, Kamara requested data on the staffing of English Language teachers and questioned the practice of engaging unapproved or unpaid teaching staff to invigilate examinations.
Urging the Ministry to release a regional breakdown of withheld results, Kamara expressed concern over potential regional disparities and the broader impact on Sierra Leone's international reputation.
Comparative figures presented by the MP indicated that 23 percent of candidate results in Sierra Leone are currently withheld, compared to significantly lower rates in neighboring West African countries such as Nigeria and The Gambia.
He questioned whether malpractice investigations could have been completed prior to publishing general results to avoid systemic disruption for thousands of students.
Addressing structural challenges within the examination system, Kamara noted that WAEC's funding from the government remains significantly lower than contributions made in neighboring nations, creating operational vulnerabilities.
He further questioned conflict-of-interest dynamics where teachers supervise their own students during national assessments, advocating for systemic reforms to protect educational integrity.
Following the inquiry, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Segepoh Thomas indicated that the Chief Education Officer would assist the Minister in compiling the requested documentation for Parliament.
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