Sierra Leone President Commends WAEC For Global Best Practises, Others

The President and Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio.

By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos

…..Mohammed Kamara Emerges Vice Chairman, WAEC

The President and Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio has commended the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for its constant demonstration of commitment to academic excellence, regional cooperation and global best practices at the council’s 67th Annual Meeting.

His Excellency applauded the council’s at its just concluded 67th Annual Meeting held at in Freetown, Sierra Leone with the election of the country’s Chief Government Nominee on Council,Dr. Alhaji Mohamed Kamara, as Vice-Chairman for a one-year tenure, succeeding Mr. Ebrima Sisawo of Gambia.

According to a statement signed by the council’s Lagos Spokes Person, Demian Ojijeogu, The meeting, which was held from March 18 to 22, 2019, was formally opened by the President who was represented by the Honourable Chief Minister, Professor David John Francis.

In his keynote address,President Bio welcomed delegates to Freetown he described WAEC as a veritable sub-regional body administering credible examinations and unifying the member countries.

He lauded the Council for constantly demonstrating its commitment to academic excellence, regional cooperation and global best practices.

He stated that his government had prioritised investment in human capital development by introducing Free Quality School Education aimed at providing accessfor alleligible pupils and students in Sierra Leone.

He called on WAEC to continue to uphold standards and integrity in its assessment process adding that there should always be relevance between assessment and curriculums that the outcomes of assessment would accurately reflect the individual’s competence or attainment in relation to tasks or further studies.

He also stressed the need for synergy among the various country offices of WAEC and urged the Council to constantly deploy cutting-edge technology in its operations across the sub-region.

While reaffirming his government’s commitment to the fulfilment of all obligations to WAEC,the President advised the Council to do everything necessary to sustain its reputation as a leading examining board in Africa.

The week-long meeting was attended by delegates from the member countries of WAEC. The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Among the delegates were thenominees of governments, representatives of ministries/departments of education, universities, teachers’ associations, and other interest groups.

The meeting was preceded by the 24th WAEC Endowment Fund Lecture entitled“Innovative Approaches to Measuring Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes of Students” which was delivered by Professor Joe A. D.Alie-Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Sierra Leone.

Council, which is the highest organ ofWAEC, holds its meeting annually in rotation amongthe five member countries.

The meeting was hosted in 2018by the Government ofThe Gambia and it will be the turn of the Government of Liberiain 2020.

At the 67th Meeting,Council reviewed the activitiesand operations of the organisation in the five membercountriesin the past year.

It considered reports from its national and international committees on various aspects of the organisation’s operations, and behalfby the committees.

It also deliberated on the action plans presented by the committees and national offices, and firmed up strategies for hitch-free operations in the current year.

Furthermore,Council received reports from the leaders of the country delegations, and lauded the various people-oriented programmes and initiatives being implemented in the education sector of their respective countries.

It expressed appreciation to the governments of the member countries for their renewed commitment to educational matters and the conduct of credible public examinations.

On the areas that appeared to be lagging, it called on the governments to step up their interventions for further assurances of access to qualit.