By Jariatu S. Bangura
Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, the Opposition Whip from the All People’s Congress (APC) representing Kambia District, has expressed deep frustration and disappointment over the omission of thousands of students from the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for the 2024/2025 academic year.
He called for the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, to appear before Parliament to explain the situation.
According to reports, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) closed its portal for school heads to submit entries for students, leaving over 100,000 pupils from 120 schools excluded from this year’s examination process.
He said that has caused significant distress among students and their families, as they face uncertainty about their ability to sit for the exams.
Hon. Kamara described the issue as a recurring problem under the leadership of Minister Sackey, contrasting it with the tenure of the previous minister, under whom such incidents were reportedly unheard of.
He criticized the government’s handling of the situation, stating that it was causing unnecessary hardship for students and parents.
He highlighted specific cases, including 400 students from Methodist Girls’ High School in Freetown and others from Mathora School, who were excluded last year due to similar issues.
He emphasized that if the government cannot pay examination fees, parents should be informed promptly so they can make alternative arrangements.
“The laws of the land mandate that every girl child must be in school, and at age 18, they should be in a position to complete secondary education. This failure to register students’ risks leaving them hopeless and increasing dropout rates,” he said.
Hon. Kamara called for a thorough verification process to ensure that schools submit accurate student lists and demanded accountability from government officials regarding last year’s omitted students. He urged the Minister to address Parliament and explain measures to prevent such omissions in the future.
