The just released West African Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) has left many tongues wagging over the appalling performance of the 23, 104 pupils who took the exams.
A total number of 23, 921 pupils registered for the examination, and figures indicate that English Language recorded only 7.8% passes, while Maths had 3.44% passes.
Of the 39 subjects examined including English language and Mathematics, there were only 7 in which candidates had an accumulative pass of 40% and above (From Grade 1 – 6). The seven are French, Core Science, Physical Education, Applied Electricity, metal Work, Woodwork, Food and Nutrition.
On individual performances Grammar school had 18 candidates with credits in nine subjects, while Annie Walsh had six candidates with similar scores.
Four schools – St Joseph’s Freetown, Albert Academy, St Francis Makeni and Government Secondary School Kenema had a pupil each with 9 subjects.
On performance credit Annie Walsh: had 366 entrants, of which 150 candidates had 5 subjects and above (41%), while the Grammar School with 145 entrants had 76 candidates with 5 subjects and above (52%).
Albert Academy had a record entry of 999 but had only 43 candidates who secured 5 subjects and above (4%), while Ahmadiyya Secondary school Kissy Dockyard had similar number of entrants and have 33 candidates with 5 subjects and above (3%).
Prince of Wales sent in 409 candidates with only 29 bagging five subjects and above (7%).
For Ahmadiyya Bo they sent in 589 entries, and only 29 candidates scored 5 subjects and above (5%), while Murialdo Lunsar: had 24 candidates with 5 subjects and above from the 113 entries (21%).
Christ the King College Bo with an entry of 294 entries could only produce 29 candidates with 5 subjects and above (10%), and for Bo School 26 candidates secured five subjects and above from the 176 entries (15%).
17 candidates from the Holy Trinity from an entry of 326 entries, only bagged 5 subjects and above.
Commenting on the outcome of this year’s results, an educationist dubbed it as disgraceful and called on pupils to focus more on their academic work rather than the social aspect that will always come at the end of their toiling.
However, a pupil ascribed the appalling performance to lack of effective teaching in schools and called for a change of attitude of teachers.
By Samuel John