Gen Z Movement Salone leader Abdulai Barrie has called for greater scrutiny of examination supervisors, invigilators, and English Language teachers in Sierra Leone. He argues that students should not bear sole responsibility for the country's poor 2026 WASSCE performance. Barrie questioned how candidates managed to bring mobile phones into examination halls, highlighting the need to investigate the conduct of examination officials and supervision.
Barrie also raised concerns about the psychological pressure associated with repeated examination failures, particularly among young candidates. He believes that the education system should consider students' welfare when addressing poor examination outcomes. This comes as the country struggles to improve its WASSCE results, with many students facing significant challenges in accessing quality education.
The Gen Z leader turned his attention to the wider English Language debate, citing difficulties that extend beyond secondary school students. He pointed to concerns about English proficiency among some public officials, including parliamentary debates and disagreements over the interpretation of legal and legislative language. Barrie argued that this highlights the need for the country to take English Language education more seriously.
Barrie challenged the Ministry of Education to assess the competence of English Language teachers, suggesting that teachers should also undergo examinations to evaluate their proficiency. He questioned whether some teachers, particularly those working in schools outside major urban centres, had sufficient command of Standard English to effectively teach the subject. This raises concerns about the quality of education in rural areas.
According to Barrie, the language environment in some communities, where Krio is widely used, presents additional challenges for students learning Standard English. He argued that improving examination results would require attention to teacher quality, classroom instruction, examination supervision, and the broader learning environment, rather than placing the entire burden on students.
The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) administers the WASSCE, which is a critical examination for secondary school students in Sierra Leone. The poor results have sparked concerns about the country's education system and the need for reforms. Barrie's comments have sparked a national conversation about the need for greater accountability and investment in education.
The Ministry of Basic And Senior Secondary School Education (MBSSE) has yet to respond to Barrie's comments, but the issue is likely to feature prominently in the country's education agenda. As the nation seeks to improve its education outcomes, the role of invigilators, English teachers, and the broader education system will come under increasing scrutiny.
Key points
- Gen Z leader Abdulai Barrie calls for scrutiny of invigilators and English teachers over poor WASSCE results.
