By Kelfala Kargbo

Freetown 10th February 2026– Sierra Leone’s government is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to absenteeism and fraud in the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) entry process, according to figures presented in parliament by the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey.

The government pays $25 per candidate to sit the WASSCE, with total public exam costs reaching nearly $1.4 million each year. In 2025, 219,173 candidates were registered, but 35,020 failed to appear, translating into a direct financial loss of about $875,500. Sackey noted that even if 2 percent of absentees were genuine, the remainder represents wasted expenditure and an undue burden on the national budget.

The report highlighted systemic fraud among school heads, including registering ineligible candidates and even fabricating names. These practices inflate government spending while undermining accountability. Disciplinary measures have already been taken: seven principals were suspended without pay for two months, and 60 others for a full year over extortion and failure to upload continuous assessment scores.

To curb losses, the Ministry has introduced binding undertakings for school heads and proprietors:

  • Absenteeism must remain below 2 percent of registered candidates, except in cases of natural emergencies.
  • All candidates must meet eligibility criteria, including five credits in BECE with Mathematics or English.
  • Duplicate registrations are strictly prohibited.

Failure to comply will trigger repayment of fees, termination of contracts, and investigation by the Anti‑Corruption Commission under the 2019 Amendment Act.

Parliamentarians backed the measures, with Speaker Hon. Sengehpoh Solomon Thomas blaming teachers for registering unqualified candidates to collect money. Committee Chair Hon. Rugiatu Kamara added that signing the undertakings should be mandatory, not optional, stressing the need to protect public funds.

The financial implications are stark: with exam costs already straining the education budget, unchecked absenteeism and fraudulent registrations risk undermining both fiscal discipline and educational integrity. For policymakers, the issue is no longer just about exam management, it is about safeguarding millions in public expenditure.