Sierra Leone Government Fails to Pay 2019 WASSCE & NPSE Exam Fees
The West African Examinations Council in Sierra Leone has said that it is facing serious financial difficulties in terms of preparations for the 2019 West African Senior Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE) which is scheduled for 15th April, 2019.
According to a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education from WAEC dated 29th March, 2019 and Signed by the head of WAEC National Office, Arnold B. Kamara (in photo), the financial constraint is caused by the failure on the part of the Sierra Leone Government to pay the examination fees for school candidates who are to take the 2019 WASSCE and NPSE respectively.
Even after the council had initiated pre- examination arrangements by procuring some materials needed for the conduct of both examinations, the letter furthered, the present number of school candidates for both examinations has rendered the council unable to make any further arrangements as it has ran out of money as a result of the nonpayment of the candidates examination fees by the Sierra Leone government.
The examination body further warned in its letter that there is no way the dates of the said exams could be altered because of Sierra Leone as the WASSCE exam is an international examination which is taken simultaneously in the West African sub region.
WAEC therefore urged the government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education to make prompt payment of fees for the candidates who are to take the forthcoming WASSCE and NPSE examinations in order to avoid the embarrassment of been disqualified from the exams.
Contacting the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) Government for a response on the said issue, the head of Strategic Communications Unit at the Ministry of Information and Communications, Abubakar Joe Sesay had this to say: ‘’There is a payment arrangement given that we inherited a huge debt owed to WAEC by the previous administration. We have offset over 50% of that. Maybe the balance is what they are talking about. This is the first time we are paying for the kids and am aware we have addressed this.’’
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara
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