By: Abass Conteh
Education (MBSSE), is engaging the public on the implications of the 2023 Education Act.
The new legislation introduces reforms to strengthen the education system, including a unique student ID number and compulsory foundational learning.
Alphonso Manley, National Coordinator of the Civil Rights Coalition, outlined the outreach campaign’s key aspects to Daily Scope Newspaper. The campaign targets citizens across 16 districts, clarifying new policies on continuous assessment scores and other changes.
Manley emphasized understanding continuous assessment scores (CASS) as mandated by the new act. “Students must achieve a 30% score to be eligible for WASSCE. The Ministry found only 81,000 out of 176,000 candidates were eligible after corrections.”
He highlighted data management challenges, noting errors in candidate names submitted by schools, which led to re-submissions for corrections. “The message we are conveying is clear: without proper continuous assessment scores, students will not be able to take the WASSCE.”
Additionally, Manley addressed changes in the repeater policy. “Candidates have only one opportunity to take WASSCE, funded by the government. If they don’t complete subjects, they’ll need to take a private WASSCE. Last year, 30,000 candidates faced issues, but after the Ministry’s review, this number decreased to 6,000, underscoring that many candidates were not eligible.”
“Our collaborative efforts with MBSSE aim to ensure all stakeholders understand the new requirements and are prepared for the changes. We are committed to supporting students and educators through this transition,” Manley explained.
The Civil Rights Coalition and MBSSE’s joint initiative underscores their commitment to educational reform and accountability. As the 2023 Education Act is implemented, both organizations are focused on providing necessary support and information to facilitate a smooth transition for students and educators.
