Legislators from the Niani and Banjul South constituencies are dismayed by the recently released West Africa Senior Secondary Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results and have urged the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education (MoBSE) to establish standards.
Omar Jobe, the Member of Parliament for Niani, indicated that 17,201 students enrolled for the WASSCE, but only 16,405 took the exam; only 921 of these students met university requirements. He explained that this is only 5% of the total amount.
“If the current trend persists, the UTG will be unable to admit the minimum number of qualified applicants. We must take a strategic look at our educational system because the country cannot progress without quality education,” emphasized Jobe.
Fatoumatta Njai, a representative from Banjul South, stated that it is evident that the results were once again very dismal, adding that as members of the National Assembly, they are concerned about the future of the youths.
“I believe we ought to remind the Minister that the education of our children is of the utmost importance. Let her review the curriculum and ensure that she provides our children with the proper education,” she stated.
NAM Njai urged the basic and secondary education minister and instructors to provide numerations to effectively impart adequate knowledge to the students. “Children with the least education are a dismal nation, and we cannot tolerate that. We desire that our children receive the same education that we did. Regarding myself, I did not attend a private school. I attended a government-run institution. She emphasized that she expects the government to impart the same knowledge to the next generation.
The WASSCE results have been unsatisfactory for three consecutive years, as stated by Madam Njai, who disagreed with Minister Claudiana Cole’s assessment that last year’s result represented an improvement.
“I do not concur with that. That cannot be termed an enhancement. Because these children are the future leaders, the government is obligated to invest in the education sector. Therefore, the government should provide strategies to alter the current situation, but sadly they are not,” she added.