The West African Examination Council (WAEC) Liberia has warned over 50, 000 students preparing to write this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) ‘not to pay for their own failure.’
Students sitting WASSCE are being advised to desist from paying separate monies to school administration to make a pass in the examination which begins next week Tuesday, May 16 to Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
WAEC’s Liberia Head, Dale Gbotoe, stated among many things that there have been numerous calls from cross section of citizens on said matter and noted that it is not the best option for making a pass in a public examination.
Gbotoe made these comments on the Education Ministry’s education forum on the state-owned broadcaster (ELBC) early this week in Monrovia emphasizing that any school administrator found in such act is doing it for self-enrichment and that it is not the best way to pass the public test.
The statement comes in the wake of cries from parents and guardians that their kids have been compelled to pay additional money in order to be successful in the exam.
He said WASSCE is not in the know of any transactions involving school administrations collecting money from students and will not support any such initiative.
The official examination boss further stated that WAEC has never been collecting money from students over the past time, calling it “flexibility or project fees therefore students or candidates be advised. Do not pay for your own failure.”
Gbotoe disclosed that US$4 million has long been paid by the government for the examination process. This has been the government’s constant contribution to motivate students and aid parents and guardians who might not be able to pay the fees for their children who will sit for the national exams.
Since 2018, this present administration has made available some US$20 million in support of students sitting for national exams.
In another development, some 100, 000 3rd and 6th graders have completed the writing of their country (Liberia) Primary School Certificate Examination (LPSCE).
It was administered alongside the 9th graders’ exam which was conducted nationwide in April.
The primary school examination is meant to test the results of those pupils at early childhood development level in knowing to what extend they understand the basis of reading, writing and arithmetic as they are being taught.
Meanwhile, WAEC has launched its 5-years (2023 to 2027) strategic plan on Friday, March 31 in Accra, Ghana by the Council’s Chairperson, Professor Ato Essuman.
He stated that the strategic plan is in line with the future aspirations of the council and will define the direction of the organization for the next five years.
Essuman paid tribute to the Council’s Registrar, Pateh Bah, the Heads of National Office in the five member countries of WAEC, and all staff of the council for birthing the strategic plan.
He emphasized the need for massive sensitization of staff on the strategic plan as it is critical to ensuring ownership and the successful implementation of the plan.
For the Registrar to Council, Pateh Bah, noted that though the implementation of the strategic plan will be met with challenges, he is optimistic that they will be surmounted and the set goals achieved.
He appreciated the secretariat for doing a great job and reaffirmed his commitment to the full implementation of the plan while calling on all staff of WAEC to embrace the strategic plan.
The WAEC strategic plan comprises five thematic areas namely: Credible Examinations; Internal Process Excellence; Stakeholders Engagement; Employee Engagement, Learning, and Growth; and Financial Sustainability.
The expected outcomes of the strategic themes have been designed to reduce examination malpractice, improve test quality and efficiency in the council’s processes, and enhance competitive edge, advance innovation and research.
Others are to improve risk management and change management process, promote the integrity of examinations and moral excellence among the youth, increase collaboration and partnership with government and other stakeholders, and create an understanding of WAEC procedures and processes to improve public perception and trust, among others.
The five-year strategic plan which has been ratified by the council (WAEC’s governing board) has an in-built monitoring and evaluation plan as well as yearly targets to help track the progress of its implementation.
The commencement date for its implementation was on Saturday, April 01, 2023.
