Minister Cole assures free, transparent WASSCE in Gambia

Minister Claudiana Ayo Cole, who was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Ministry’s Information Officer, Lamin B. Darboe, indicated that the GABECE was conducted free, fair and transparent manner without malpractices of any kind throughout The Gambia.

She assured that the same would be done for WASSCE.

It would be recalled that the grade 9 students sat the GABECE some weeks ago without reports of a single malpractice or cheating.

“The same trend if not better will occur during this ongoing WASSCE in the country,” says Minister Cole.

Since the first outbreak of coronavirus pandemic in the country in March 2020, the officials at MoBSE conducted series of meetings with their stakeholders to conduct online classes for students of all grades so that grades 9 and 12 students can sit their examinations in order to pave the way for other grades to move to new grades.

“Examination malpractice can only occur in schools when students are not sure of themselves of whether they will perform well or not. We know that our students (in grades 9 and 12) are in the right track. They will not involve themselves in examination malpractices because they are well ready for their examinations.”

Minister Cole acknowledged that her ministry noticed from both the grades 9 and 12 students that they are not lazy to attend their classes during the Covid-9 crisis, adding that the zeal and the desire is in them to make sure they came out with flying colors without any exam malpractices or cheating.

On Monday, the Basic Education minister visited some senior secondary schools in Region 2 to see how they are gearing-up for the WASSCE.

By Lamin B. Darboe

Information Officer, MoBSE