His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has expressed serious concern over the growing culture of examination malpractice in Sierra Leone, accusing various stakeholders—including parents, teachers, and even the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)—of contributing to the problem.
Speaking during the opening of the National Tobacco Control Agency (NATCA) office, President Bio said the country must confront the issue of cheating in schools if it is to build a competent, credible, and productive future generation.
“WAEC is helping our children to cheat us,” President Bio declared. “The Minister of Civic Education has a huge task ahead. Parents are helping their children to cheat, teachers are helping their students to cheat, and even WAEC is helping students to cheat us.”
The President emphasized that examination malpractice poses a serious threat to national development and undermines efforts to improve the quality and credibility of the country’s education system.
“We have to change this because it will not help us as a nation,” he said. “Students must stop cheating, and parents should stop buying answers for their children. By encouraging examination malpractice, we are only cheating ourselves and jeopardizing the future of our country.”
President Bio noted that academic success should be based on hard work, merit, and integrity rather than dishonest practices. He warned that a continued culture of cheating would produce graduates who lack the knowledge and skills required to contribute meaningfully to national development.
He called on parents, teachers, examination authorities, and policymakers to work together to restore discipline, honesty, and accountability within the education sector.
According to the President, sustainable national development depends on an education system that rewards merit and produces ethically grounded citizens capable of driving the country’s progress.
