FREETOWN — Sierra Leone’s Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, has vowed sweeping reforms to restore integrity to the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) process, declaring “enough is enough” in an address to Parliament on Wednesday.
Speaking passionately about the challenges surrounding the 2025 WASSCE, Sackey said, “Our pupils deserve a system that works for them; one that is timely, transparent, and fair.”
The Minister, who assumed office amid ongoing concerns about examination irregularities, stressed that his focus is not on apportioning blame but on correcting a system riddled with longstanding issues.
“When I assumed office, it became clear that we were dealing with a system that had longstanding gaps,” he said. “But we are not here to cast blame; we are here to correct course.”
According to Sackey, the Ministry has implemented key reforms aimed at restoring order and credibility to the examination process.
“We have strengthened checks, engaged key partners, and put in place clearer guidelines to ensure that exam entries are valid, timely, and in the best interest of the pupils,” he told lawmakers.
He emphasized that the reform is more than administrative.
“This is not just about fixing a process, it’s about protecting the future. It’s about ensuring that every hardworking pupil is given a fair opportunity, and that the system is no longer vulnerable to delays, errors, or manipulation,” Sackey stated.
In a direct and resolute conclusion, Sackey reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to reform.
“We owe our pupils better and we are delivering on that promise. Enough is enough. We are drawing a line, and we are moving forward,” he declared.
