By Francis Koroma
Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) joined the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) on Monday in a strategic effort to prevent academic malpractice ahead of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The high-level meeting, held at St. Andrew’s Secondary School in Bo, brought together school principals, MBSSE officials, and representatives from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
Michael Sesay, Acting Regional Director of the ACC’s Bo office, urged school leaders to adopt a “zero tolerance” approach to corruption, warning that individuals found guilty of leaking exam papers, bribing invigilators, or engaging in collusion face heavy fines and custodial sentences under the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 (amended 2019).
“Integrity is not just a buzzword; it is the essential ingredient for national development and our children’s future,” Sesay said. “Principals are the moral compass of our schools.”
ACC Regional Manager Mohamed Tomboyekeh highlighted the growing problem of parents being charged illegal fees for “camping” students ahead of exams. He said such practices, despite being publicly prohibited by MBSSE, amount to both academic malpractice and exploitation of parents.
Prince Patrick Negbeh, Deputy Director of MBSSE in Bo, described the meeting as a roadmap for an examination season based on merit rather than manipulation. He emphasized that the ACC’s role is to support schools, not to conduct witch hunts, in efforts to uphold the credibility of Sierra Leone’s education system.
As the 2026 WASSCE approaches, the ACC and MBSSE pledged closer monitoring of examinations and proper use of school subsidies to safeguard the integrity of WASSCE certificates.
