Freetown, June 11, 2025 — Sierra Leone’s Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, has delivered a comprehensive update on the conduct of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), while issuing a stern warning against examination malpractices.
Speaking at a recent press conference hosted by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Minister Sackey highlighted the critical stages of the examination process, starting with the submission of Continuous Assessment Scores (CAS), a key component of students’ final results.
He revealed that out of 892 participating schools, 880 successfully submitted their CAS-2 scores, while 12 schools failed to comply and have been suspended pending investigations.
According to Minister Sackey, a total of 148,362 candidates—comprising 66,689 males and 81,673 females—from 886 schools were officially registered through the BRS system. The exams were conducted at 335 centres nationwide.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive education, particularly through special arrangements for students with visual and hearing impairments under the “radical inclusion” policy. While the exam period, spanning April 24 to June 20, proceeded relatively smoothly, several challenges emerged, including absenteeism, impersonation, and the use of mobile phones during exams—offenses that were met with strict penalties.
Minister Sackey expressed serious concern over the conduct of some school leaders who were found to have manipulated data or facilitated fake entries.
He warned that such actions cause significant financial losses and undermine the integrity of the examination system.
Looking ahead to the 2026 exam cycle, the Ministry has implemented stricter timelines, launched thorough investigations, and pledged firm disciplinary measures to deter such practices.
In his concluding remarks, Minister Sackey emphasized that maintaining the credibility of the WASSCE is a collective national responsibility, urging all stakeholders to work together to protect the examination’s integrity.
