NO CHILD SHOULD BE DENIED THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION
– OPPOSITION WHIP
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has once again found itself at the center of controversy, accused of undermining the dreams of countless Sierra Leonean students. The institution, which holds significant control over the country’s educational assessments, has often been criticized for its unchecked authority and decisions that negatively impact students.
Opposition Chief Whip Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara has emerged as a staunch advocate for equitable access to education, regardless of a student’s background or circumstances. He has consistently called out WAEC for its questionable practices, providing clear evidence to back his claims.
In the previous academic year, Hon. Kamara publicly condemned WAEC for excluding thousands of students from sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) due to what he described as a flimsy excuse the late upload of continuous assessment grades. This decision, which he labeled as egregious, shattered the aspirations of many students, some of whom were driven into delinquency as a result.
Hon. Kamara has once again sounded the alarm, accusing WAEC of perpetuating this unfair practice. He disclosed that, for the current academic year, thousands of students, predominantly girls, are at risk of being excluded from taking their exams. Two prominent schools Freetown Secondary School for Girls and Mathora Girls’ High School in Magburaka are among the hardest hit, with approximately 560 students from Mathora and 400 from Freetown Girls’ High School affected.
According to Hon. Kamara, WAEC frequently closes its registration portal without notifying the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), leaving the ministry scrambling to reopen it. He emphasized that such actions create unnecessary hurdles for students and threaten their right to education.
“Our children should not go without taking the exams,” he asserted, vowing to ensure that last year’s debacle is not repeated. Hon. Kamara reaffirmed his commitment to standing with the affected students and revealed that ongoing engagements with all stakeholders aim to resolve the issue and guarantee that every child can sit for their exams.
In conclusion, Hon. Kamara reiterated his dedication to creating an enabling environment for students, emphasizing that education is a fundamental right and not a privilege.
