The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, has taken a bold stand against academic dishonesty.

Joined by MPs from the Education and Legislative Committees and WAEC Bill consultant Dr. Kwabena Oteng Acheampong, yesterday’s spirited discourse at the MBSSE conference hall in New England, Freetown, zoomed in on the alarming issue of exams malpractice, fabricated continuous assessment scores and the failure of school leaders to submit them.

Minister Sackey didn’t mince words, declaring the meeting a crucial step in upholding educational golden standards. The spotlight was on Section 33 of the new WAEC Bill, with Chief Examination Officer Professor Yatta Kanu revealing that failure to submit continuous assessment scores have plagued the system for years.

In an ardent exchange, Hon. Abdul S. Marray-Conteh, Legislative Committee Chairman, pushed for strict disciplinary actions to be embedded in the regulations. Hon. Mohamed Papa Bangura, from the Basic and Senior Secondary School Committee, insisted that penalties for tampering with Continuous Assessment Scores must be explicitly stated in the Act itself.

Minister Sackey agreed, emphasizing the urgent need for reform. Proposed stricter against exams malpractice; and also suggested that schools failing to upload CAS entries will not only cover exam fees for affected pupils but also face a one-year ban as an exam center.

The WASCE bill 2024 promises a new era of integrity and accountability in Sierra Leone’s transitional exams.