By eric.george@awokonewspapersl.com
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – A storm is brewing in Sierra Leone’s education sector as the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) is set to face tough questions in Parliament today over the exclusion of thousands of students from the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Sengepoh Solomon Thomas, has summoned the minister to provide a detailed explanation to the House following mounting public outrage and concern from lawmakers across the political divide. The Speaker described the situation as “deeply troubling,” noting that the scale of the omission has left many communities dismayed.
“This is an issue of national importance. The future of thousands of students are at stake,” Speaker Thomas declared, while urging citizens to attend today’s plenary session, which begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Parliament building on Tower Hill, Freetown.
The minister is expected to deliver a ministerial briefing addressing the root causes of the crisis, the number of candidates affected, and what immediate steps are being taken to remedy the situation.
For over a year, concerns over WASSCE registration and administration have been repeatedly raised in Parliament. Opposition MPs, including the All People’s Congress (APC) Chief Whip Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, have been particularly vocal, citing the impact on their constituents and accusing both WAEC and the MBSSE of failing to act despite multiple committee engagements.
Despite several calls for reform and transparency, a lasting resolution has remained elusive—until now. With public pressure mounting and Parliament demanding answers, today’s hearing could prove pivotal for the future of the 2025 examination cycle.
As families, students, and educators anxiously await the outcome, all eyes are on Tower Hill, where the fate of Sierra Leone’s next generation of graduates hangs in the balance. SEG/8/5/2025
