By: Precious Miracle Kargbo Snr
As thousands of junior secondary school pupils across Sierra Leone commenced the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, has encouraged candidates to approach the examination with courage and confidence rather than fear.
In a nationwide message to candidates, Minister Sackey described the BECE not only as an academic assessment but also as an important milestone that reflects the hopes and aspirations of families and the nation.
“Pupils across Sierra Leone walk into examination halls carrying more than pens and pencils,” he said. “They carry the hopes of families, the sacrifices of parents, and the future of this nation.”
The Minister urged candidates to rely on the preparation they have undertaken over the past months, reminding them that their dedication and hard work had already prepared them for the challenge ahead.
“To every pupil sitting the BECE this morning: you have already done the hardest part,” Sackey said. “The early mornings of revision, sleepless nights, and the questions you asked your teachers until the answers finally made sense that preparation is now yours to trust. Walk in with your head high.”
Addressing concerns about examination anxiety, Minister Sackey advised pupils to remain calm, focused, and confident throughout the process.
“Fear will try to enter that examination hall with you. Do not let it sit beside you,” he cautioned. “Breathe, read each question carefully, and answer with the confidence of someone who has put in the work, because you have.”
The Minister also expressed appreciation to parents and teachers for their support and commitment in preparing the candidates.
He acknowledged parents for their “quiet prayers” and continuous encouragement, saying their sacrifices helped shape the pupils sitting the examination. He also praised teachers as the “quiet engine behind every success story,” recognizing their dedication and extra efforts in guiding students.
“Every lesson you delivered, every extra hour you gave after class, and every pupil you refused to give up on it all leads to this moment,” Sackey told educators.
The BECE represents a significant transition point for pupils as they prepare to move from junior secondary school into senior secondary education. The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education confirmed that examination supervisors and security personnel have been deployed to centres across all 16 districts to ensure a smooth and credible examination process.
Concluding his message, Minister Sackey encouraged the 2026 BECE candidates to see the examination as an opportunity to demonstrate their determination and commitment.
“Let it be said of this generation of pupils that they did not merely sit an examination, but rose to meet it,” he said. “The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education stands with every candidate, every parent, and every teacher across the country as this year’s BECE begins. Sierra Leone believes in you. Now go and prove it right.”
Education authorities said the results of this year’s BECE are expected to be released in the coming months.