Education Minister Announces Release Dates for WASSCE and BECE Results

In a pivotal announcement during a press conference held on September 12, 2023, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Conference Room on Tower Hill in Freetown, Conrad Sacky, the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), disclosed crucial updates regarding academic examinations and education funding.

Sacky revealed that the eagerly awaited West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results are set to be released within the next two weeks. Furthermore, the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results are expected to be made public by the end of September.

The MBSSE, in collaboration with strategic partnerships, has successfully secured a substantial funding package of $73.7 million from organizations such as the World Bank, Education Above All, and the Partnership for Education.

This financial support is intended to bolster the government’s efforts in providing Free and Quality Education (FQE) across Sierra Leone.

WASSCE, recognized as the final examination undertaken by secondary school students before they gain admission to tertiary institutions, has witnessed a notable increase in the number of successful candidates over the years. This surge has, in turn, led to some tertiary institutions implementing entrance exams as a prerequisite for admission.

Additionally, the Ministry revealed a concerning development, stating that more than 7,450 candidates were disqualified from the 2023 WASSCE due to the negligence of school leaders and principals who failed to register their eligible students before the portal’s closure on March 31, 2023. Out of the 228,171 candidates initially presented to the West African Examination Council (WAEC), only 220,721 were successfully registered for the 2023 exams.

It is worth noting that the West African Examination Council is an internationally recognized examination body established by law, serving five-member West African countries, including Sierra Leone. This announcement marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s education landscape, with significant implications for students and educational institutions alike.