By: Saidu Jalloh, Reporter
The Tonkolili Network Movement for Families Empowerment Organization (TNMFEO) has raised alarm over a critical issue affecting education in Sierra Leone. More than 4,000 students may miss the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) scheduled for June 2025 due to an oversight in the approval process. These students, whose Continuous Assessment Grades (CASS) were submitted to the Ministry’s website, were unexpectedly left off the approved candidates list.
Acting as a pressure group in the Western Area, TNMFEO has brought the matter to public attention, threatening legal action and potential nationwide school strikes if the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) does not resolve the situation promptly.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the MBSSE Minister, Secretary General Lamin Issa Sesay Esq. expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s efforts to improve the education sector. However, he quickly shifted focus to raise concerns about the “widespread elimination of registered candidates,” which he claims is contributing to a surge in school dropout rates.
The organization claims to have conducted a seven-day tour and research across learning institutions in the Western region and neighboring areas. Their findings revealed that over 4,000 students, whose CASS were uploaded to the Ministry’s website, have been inexplicably excluded from the list of approved WASSCE candidates. This oversight has caused significant distress among students and parents, who demand immediate clarification and resolution.
The letter underscored alarming statistics from their investigation, noting that some schools registered as many as 800 candidates, yet only 25 were approved to sit for the June 2025 exams. In more troubling cases, some schools reported receiving zero approved candidates. The organization argues that such discrepancies threaten the nation’s human capital development, built over years of investment in education.
TNMFEO is urgently calling on the government and educational stakeholders to prioritize educational advancement for the betterment of Sierra Leone, referencing the nation’s historical reputation as the “Athens of West Africa.” They contend that the country cannot afford to fall behind in educational progress.
The organization has urged the MBSSE and the government to “act swiftly” to rectify the situation, particularly with the examination period approaching rapidly. They warned that failure to provide a satisfactory resolution would lead to legal action or a “nationwide peaceful schools strike march” aimed at halting the May/June WASSCE examination. The group asserted that even approved candidates would stand in solidarity with their affected peers and refuse to participate until the issue is resolved.
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