President Bio told a visiting delegation of the sub-regional exams body that while his government is in favor of universal access to education, it was equally concerned about ensuring quality.
WAEC, established in 1952 with a mandate to determine and conduct examinations and award certificates of international standard to deserving candidates, serves the five English Speaking West African countries of Sierra Leone, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia.
But the exams Council has over the last few decades undergone troubles relating to maintaining standards. “We want to appeal to make sure the standard is maintained in education, which is our main concern.
We have been quite concerned with a variety of issues surrounding integrity, issues for which we count on you to make sure that those issues are properly addressed so that our kids can have a quality education,” said President Bio.
The meeting offered the regional exams body the opportunity to share their concerns with the government, including millions of US Dollars owed it by the country in arrears. The WAEC delegation was headed by its chairman, Mr Babucarr Bouye from The Gambia, who disclosed that for the last 10 years, Sierra Leone hadn’t pay its contribution and examination fees to the Council, amounting to $11 million.
The country is also yet to pay its annual subvention and examination fees for the academic year 2018 and 2019, added Mr Bouye. Bouye nonetheless expressed appreciation to the country for the
contribution of its citizens to the progress of WAEC as an institution that bridges the link between the education sectors of member countries.
“WAEC appreciates the commitment and supports of the Government and people of Sierra Leone. We hope and pray that nothing will diminish the stature of the existing relationship between this country and our organization. Be assured that WAEC is irrevocably committed to ensuring that it does not, in any way, disappoint the government and people of Sierra Leone,” said Mr Bouye.
According to a release from the Presidency, the delegation also used the opportunity to extend an invitation to the Sierra Leone government to host its 67th Annual Council Meeting scheduled for later this year.