By Sahrfoa Matturie
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) has attributed the widespread failure in English during the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to rampant exam malpractice.
Augustine Bamie Anthony, Communications Specialist at MBSSE, revealed in an interview with Liberty Television that evidence indicates students across several regions, including Makeni and Freetown, submitted identical answers.
“This is not an isolated incident; it is a systemic issue affecting the credibility of our exams,” Anthony said, warning that such malpractice undermines both students’ academic growth and public confidence in the education system.
Education analysts have raised alarms over the long-term consequences, noting that cheating threatens the quality of the future workforce and the standards of higher education.
In response, the MBSSE announced plans to strengthen monitoring, enhance verification processes, and impose strict disciplinary action on offenders. Anthony appealed to teachers, exam supervisors, and students to uphold academic integrity.
“This is a wake-up call for all stakeholders. We must safeguard the integrity of our education system for the future of our children and our nation,” he emphasized.
