-As WASSCE 2023 results contradict its requirement (s).
By: Jerromie S. Walters
National exams play a crucial role in assessing the academic capabilities and achievements of students on a broader scale. Like the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), these exams are designed to provide an unbiased evaluation of students’ knowledge and skills, which helps in determining their future prospects.
Contrary to what Liberians have experienced since 2018, following the end of WAEC Exams for senior students, to the introduction of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) which is more improved, the 2023 WASSCE results that were recently released by WAEC-Liberia, have sparked questions regarding its credibility and the accuracy of the assessment process.
This is because this year’s results unarguably portrayed exceptional performances by students, but with a questionable nature.
On Tuesday, August 22, 2023, WAEC-Liberia Boss Dale Gbotoe, disclosed that 46,448 12th Graders passed out of the 49, 383 students that wrote this year’s exams in the country. According to him, the number of students that passed the regional exams from Liberia amounts to 94.06%.
In 2019, the WASSCE pass rate was at 71%. The improvement continued with 81.37% in 2020, 93.83% in 2021, 95.79% in 2022, and 94.06% in 2023.
Since 2018, WAEC has made it clear that to become a successful candidate in the national exam, candidates must pass both English and Mathematics, along with at least two other subjects.
As an adherence to this mandate, it has been a significant requirement in all universities across the country that students must meet before being granted admission.
As a result of this, hundreds of students have been unable to enroll to universities of their choice, while some that have not met the requirement often bribe their way through.
The WASSCE results are calculated by
summing up three of the candidates
best core and three of their best
elective subject grades, with
compulsory, a credit score in the two
mathematics and science.
But contrary to this requirement, multiplicity of results have shown candidates who only passed in Mathematics (or English) and two other subjects being considered as successful candidates.
More to this, some of the candidates with similar results and some who results were withheld, were also graded in Division 1, which is obviously known as distinction. To be graded as a Division 1 student, accumulating A1 In at least three major subjects is required.
Howbeit, these have left concerns as to whether the West African Examination Council (WAEC) grading system has changed, or if their system is malfunctioning.
The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is a type of standardized test in West Africa. Students who pass the exam receive a certificate confirming their graduation from secondary education. It is administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
The exam is only offered to candidates residing in Anglophone West African countries. The academic school-leaving qualification awarded upon successful completion of the exams is the West African Senior School Certificate.
The West African Senior School
was established in 1952 by the West
African Examination Council (WAEC)
usher qualified senior high school
graduates into universities in the
country. It is written in April-May every
Certificate Examination (WASSCE)
year.
This exam is also taken in four other West African countries, namely,
Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the Gambia, and
Liberia.
