By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter, Daily Scope
A coalition of school principals from across Sierra Leone has announced its decision to boycott the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), raising significant concerns about the operations of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
In a formal letter dated April 25, 2025, the Coalition for Principals’ Solidarity declared that no member principal will participate in any aspect of the WASSCE process. The coalition has also mandated all teachers nationwide to withdraw from WAEC-related duties, including invigilation and supervision.
The letter, addressed to the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, was copied to several key institutions, including WAEC – Sierra Leone, the Inspector General of Police, the Armed Forces, Civil Society Organizations, Parents’ Associations, the Media, and the Office of the Chief Minister.
The coalition cited WAEC’s “lack of transparency, disregard for educational stakeholders, and failure to uphold examination integrity” as the reasons for their decision. As part of their protest, they plan to hold peaceful demonstrations at WAEC district offices, particularly in the Western Region, and are urging parents, especially mothers, to join the movement in defense of students’ educational futures.
The coalition has issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding that WAEC remove all scannable materials from examination centers and find alternative locations for conducting exams. They made it clear that schools under the coalition will not host WAEC exams under the current conditions.
In a bold move, the principals are also calling on the government to establish a new international examination body to replace WAEC, arguing that the current system fails to reflect fairness and professionalism. WAEC has yet to respond publicly to the coalition’s demands.
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