WAEC Announces Impressive Performance in West African Senior School Certificate Examinations Amid Challenges
Gbotoe underlined the substantial progress in Liberian students’ performance in the 2023 exams, comparing it to the 2022 results. Highlighting the exceptional achievements, Gbotoe recognized Desire Sayegar, a standout student from the Ford Madden Christian Academy in Montserrado County, as the highest-scoring candidate. Priscilla Cooper of the same institution secured the second position, followed closely by Langord Zayzay from the Dominion Christian Fellowship, both also hailing from Montserrado County.
While celebrating these accomplishments, Gbotoe acknowledged the persistent challenges WAEC confronts during exam administration. He identified issues such as dilapidated road conditions, particularly in the Southeastern regions and parts of Lofa County, along with the misuse of social media platforms to prematurely circulate WASSCE question papers as major obstacles faced by the Council.
Expanding on these challenges, Gbotoe emphasized that inadequate road networks pose a serious hindrance to the seamless execution of the National Exam across the nation. He revealed that the office has expended considerable resources, including US$15,000 to airlift test materials to certain counties due to the dire state of roads. Despite these difficulties, he underscored that all candidates managed to sit for their exams on time, as the test papers were promptly distributed throughout the country.
He said: “Deplorable roads conditions in some counties is a major challenge, especially Southeastern Counties as well as Lofa County. At some point, the office has spent US$15,000 just to transport the test to those counties through domestic flight, even though bad road condition post serious threat to the smooth conduct of the Exam. We are happy to report that no candidate missed any of the test because the test papers were delivered on time throughout the Country.”
In a disappointing turn, Gbotoe revealed that 1,799 individual candidates’ results have been withheld due to suspected academic misconduct. Additionally, results from 730 schools’ subjects have been withheld due to evidence of collusion.
Gbotoe sternly criticized the unethical use of social media to facilitate examination malpractice, targeting individuals he referred to as “clean clothes Zogoes.” He condemned their actions, stating that despite their seemingly positive intentions, they are ultimately undermining the nation’s educational integrity. Gbotoe drew attention to the paradox of these individuals posing as educated but engaging in damaging behaviors that erode the future of the country.
He disclosed ongoing investigations into unprofessional conduct, involving both Liberians and foreign collaborators, which have tainted the educational sector of the nation.
“The use of social media to perpetrate examinations malpractice is alarming. There are some so-called educated and sophisticated people who are bent on destroying the feature of our nation. These are what we call clean cloth Zogoes because they pretend to mean well for this nation but they are destroying the feature of the nation. Some of these people sadly are in the educational sector of our country.”
By: Emmanuel Toe
CATEGORIES National
How can passing 1 out of 9 subjects be considered a pass? If only 31% passed in English while English and Mathematics require mandatory pass, how can you say 95 or 96% passed. This means that at most 31% passed. Faulty statistics by WAEC using pass as those who passed at least 1 subject.