By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Dr David Moinina Sengeh has expressed joy and excitement over the newly released WASSCE results, pointing out that this is the best result ever in history of Sierra Leone and a great achievement worth celebrating.
The Minister made this disclosure at the usual presser held at the Ministry of Information and Communication Conference Hall, Youyi building in Freetown.
Dr Sengeh disclosed that since the inception of the free quality education, over 1 million students have been enrolled with most being girls.
He went on to say that, there were Hundred and eighty six thousand school going children who sat to the WASSCE, with two hundred and six registered students an increase of four hundred and seventy nine percent (479%) between the periods of 2018 and 2022.
The individual pass rate for papers he said is 77% an increase he said from 0 to 60%. He said 60% of students at the university are being paid for on a government grant in aid.
Mr Sengeh continued that over 13,000 candidates can go to the university with the introduction of four credits; students with four credits are now eligible for entry at the university.
He talked about the top student with the best WASSCE result from Kenema, and remarkable pass rates of English and Mathematics.
Dr Sengeh revealed that there are over 3.1million children still with the Maths and English text books given to them and they are yet to submit the books with 27,000 copies of those within the reach of teachers.
He gave a pass rate figures of students with a minimum credit rate from 2016 which he said was about 16% of students who passed with the minimum of 5 credits, in 2017 29%, 2018 18%, 2019 6%.
He said the figure of students with 5 credits decreased in 2019 due to the crackdown of examination malpractice amongst students as he said this happens everywhere and anywhere.
In 2021 he said 40% of children passed and in 2022 61% of children who sat to the WASSCE have a minimum of 5 credits to be enrolled in to the university, this he described as progression.
He congratulated teachers and students who put in effort towards their studies and praised teachers for their relentless efforts towards the betterment of education thereby giving Sierra Leone a face-lift in the world with other African countries such as Ghana, Nigeria etc.
He concluded by encouraging that the media should be discouraged from spreading bad news of the result, as this result proved the efforts of the government, teachers, and students who worked hard in achieving this success story.
Senior Presidential Spokesman Dr Alhaji Alpha Khan backed the view of the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education as he said Sierra Leone should not be shy of the achievements during these four years of service to the nation.
He continued that the inception of the August 10th Insurrection painted a bad image of the country to foreign investors who were on the verge of investing in the country.
Dr Khan commends the effort of the Minister for such remarkable progress in the education system and the President His Excellency Julius Maada Bio for rebranding Sierra Leone as he said Sierra Leone needs such and only a leader zealous and passionate enough can do so.
He concluded that four years back, there was no free education, now he said the President made it a priority for young people to be educated and contribute towards the national development of the country.