By Jensen B. A. Cummings
The question of whether universities in Sierra Leone should be granted autonomy to admit students through their own entrance examinations deserves serious attention. At present, the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) largely determines admission into universities. Yet concerns about malpractice, irregularities and the reliability of results continue to raise debate.
Universities carry the responsibility of producing graduates. They are the institutions that ultimately certify whether a student is ready for the world of work. If that is the case, why should they not be allowed to test candidates themselves and decide who qualifies?
The idea is not new. Sierra Leone Grammar School conducts its own entrance examinations for prospective students. The University of Sierra Leone also uses programme‑specific entrance examinations for certain courses. If schools and universities already apply additional assessments, then the larger question is whether universities should be given the final say in determining admission.
Consider a student who fails to secure the required WASSCE grades but later sits a university entrance examination. The test covers English, Mathematics, critical thinking and subjects relevant to the chosen programme. The student performs well. Should that student be denied admission because of the WASSCE result? Or should the university be allowed to admit the candidate based on its own assessment?
There is a strong case for giving universities that discretion. One examination should not be the only measure of academic potential. A university that admits a student, teaches that student for four years and awards a degree carries responsibility for the quality of that graduate. It is logical that the university should have a meaningful role in determining readiness for admission.
Autonomy, however, must come with safeguards. Universities should establish clear entrance examinations, publish requirements and maintain independent boards to oversee the process. Admission must be based on merit. Systems must be put in place to prevent corruption, favouritism and the sale of admission places. Examinations should be transparent, affordable and accessible to students across the country. Accountability for the quality of admitted students must remain with the universities.
The issue goes beyond academic standards. It touches on fairness and opportunity. WASSCE should remain an important national qualification, but it should not be the only door to university. A candidate who demonstrates competence in a university’s entrance examination should not be automatically excluded because of WASSCE.
This is a matter for government and education authorities. The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the universities themselves must consider whether institutions should be granted greater autonomy.
The principle is simple. WASSCE remains the national secondary‑school examination. Universities, however, are allowed to independently determine readiness for higher education. If a candidate passes WASSCE, admission is straightforward. If a candidate does not meet the WASSCE requirement but passes the university’s entrance examination, the university should have the authority to admit that candidate.
This is not about lowering standards. It is about asking whether one national examination should have absolute power over a student’s future. Universities bear the final responsibility for the graduates they produce. They should therefore have a decisive role in determining who is ready to begin the journey.
Sierra Leone needs to have this conversation. Should WASSCE remain the final gate to university, or should universities themselves be given autonomy to open another door?
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 26th August 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
