The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education has issued a public announcement reaffirming the continuation of the Free Quality School Education programme, which aims to provide essential educational opportunities for the children of the country.
As part of this initiative, the Ministry is dedicated to easing the financial burden on parents and guardians, including covering examination fees for candidates in public examination classes.
Key Points
1. Examination Fees Coverage: The Ministry commits to covering examination fees for candidates in public examination classes, encompassing the National Primary School Certificate (NPSC), Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Public school students will not be required to pay any fees for these examinations.
2. Prohibition of Extortion: School principals and headteachers are sternly warned against any attempts to extort money from parents or guardians concerning examination fees. Incidents of fee collection should be promptly reported to the Ministry.
3. WASSCE Entries: All WASSCE entries must be submitted to the Chief Education Officer’s (CEO) office in Freetown. The submission period will commence on November 8, 2023, in Excel format on a disc, with a backup on a memory card/stick. Centralized entry submission is part of the Ministry’s efforts to enhance efficiency and transparency in enrollment management for upcoming examinations.
4. Eligibility: Eligible candidates for the 2024 WASSCE exams are those who either sat for or achieved BECE results between 2020 and 2021. School authorities are requested to provide the current WASSCE Class followed by the BECE results. The Ministry retains responsibility for verifying these results.
5. Deadline: The deadline for all submissions is set for the first week of December 2023.
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education remains steadfast in its commitment to provide equitable and inclusive access to quality education for all students. The Free Quality School Education programme serves as a pivotal element of this commitment. All stakeholders, including parents, guardians, school administrators, and students, are encouraged to collaborate to ensure the success of this initiative.
For inquiries or to report any issues related to the implementation of the Free Quality School Education programme, please contact the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education through the Toll-Free Line 8060.
