The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) has reported that due to the negligence of school leaders and principals who failed to register eligible students before the registration portal closed on March 31, 2023, over 7,450 candidates were excluded from the 2023 WASSCE exams. In a statement released on May 3, 2023, the MBSSE urged school leaders, parents, and candidates to take note of the press release issued on April 11, 2023, which announced the reopening of the registration portal for the fourth time.
The ministry clarified that the fourth reopening was made possible through its engagement with the West African Examination Council (WAEC) international, which provided a last chance for school leaders to register their candidates. The MBSSE affirmed that the government remains committed to paying public examination fees for eligible candidates at all levels, including NPSE, BECE, and WASSCE. However, school leaders who neglected their responsibilities and left out eligible candidates should be held responsible for their students' inability to write the exams.
The statement also noted that out of the 228,171 candidates presented to WAEC, only 220,721 were registered for the 2023 exams. The ministry advised affected candidates and their parents/guardians to remain calm and trust the government's handling of the matter. It is crucial to understand that the registration portal is solely managed by WAEC International and not Sierra Leone, as the West African Examination Council is an international examination body established by law in five-member West African countries, including Sierra Leone.
The MBSSE cautioned that anyone who undermines the government's efforts to provide education to its citizens would face the full force of the law. The affected candidates and their families were encouraged to collaborate with the ministry and WAEC to ensure a satisfactory resolution of the issue.