By Bill W. Cooper
Authorities at the Ministry of Education (MoE) have reiterated that the Ministry will not hesitate to take punitive measures against schools that will allow graduate students without the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result.
The WASSCE, which is administered by the West African Examination Council (WEAC), is a mandatory examination that students must write and pass before they can be awarded a senior secondary school certificate.
The MoE’s warning comes after it observed that many public and private schools graduate students in the absence of the WASSCE result.
The MoE said Ricks Mission in Brewerville and Haywood Mission on the Old Road were punished by the Ministry in 2022 for defying the Ministry warning.
Speaking at a program dubbed ‘Education Matter’ on ELBC, the MoE communication officer, Maxim Bleethan warned that any school caught graduating students without the WASSCE result will be ‘fined or closed.’
According to Bleethan, “It has come to the attention of the Minister of Education that some private schools are planning or contemplating on graduating students without making them to wait for their WASSCE examination result which is one of the requirements for graduation.”
He said, “And this something that the Minister sees as unacceptable and will not be tolerated, and like was done last academic year, will not relent in punishing any schools be it private or public that will defy the Ministry warning to graduate students without graduation.”
He stressed that schools found guilty would be barred from participating in any government-sponsored educational program as well as be fined or closed down for time indefinite.
The WASSCE examination, which is written in other West African countries, is a standardized test that qualifies students for graduation from secondary school and those seeking admission universities and institutions of high learning.
Bleethan however argued that the decision by the Ministry to punish schools is aimed at ensuring that students receive the necessary education that will prepare them for their respective university education.
“The government believes that students who do not pass the WASSCE examination are not adequately prepared for college or university education and may struggle to cope with the academic demands of higher education,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, administrators of sone public and private schools have expressed their disappointment in the MoE’s decision and have called for a dialogue with the government to address the issue, while others welcome the government decision saying it would in the best interest of the school and the students.
Those against argued that the decision to punish schools for graduating students without the WASSCE examination result is unfair, as some schools may have valid reasons for graduating their students in the absence of the examination results.
While those in favor said the decision to punish private schools for graduating students without the WASSCE examination results is a welcome development, noting that it is a step towards ensuring that students receive the necessary education that will prepare them for college, University or TIVET education.
