By Julius Konton
IPNEWS: Over one thousand examiners on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, commenced the marking of the 2023 WASSCE papers.
Already the objective component of the marking has officially ended.
The process which is expected to last for about two weeks will end with the official release of the results of the 2023 WASSCE on August 10, 2023.
Speaking at the National coordination meeting to mark the beginning of the marking process, the Head of WAEC- Liberia Dale Gbotoe urged the examiners to be focused and committed and to do the process in a professional manner and form.
The Liberian educator stressed that anyone who undermines the work that WAEC does is an enemy of the State.
He challenged examiners not to compromise validity at the detriment of the larger society.
According to him, the threat of validity is dangerous to the larger society.
“If you give students undeserved marks, you are compromising validity and will be harming society”, he re-echoed.
Mr. Gbotoe wants examiners to mark the papers with accuracy, and professionalism and to see integrity as the hallmark of what they will do over the next two weeks.
Speaking on the political issues, he disclosed that WAEC is ill politically as such, he urged examiners to suspend all political activities as they go about a crucial national duty.
” Even though we are in the political season and the climate is charged but I challenged you to do your work for now and avoid politics”, he added.
Mr. Gbotoe at the same time hailed the Government of Liberia for the regular payment of the student’s WASSCE fees disclosing that the government has made available 99% of this year’s exam payment.
Speaking about the candidate’s performances since the start of the WASSCE, the Liberian educator categorized them into two, Quantitative and qualitative.
Under quantitative, he disclosed that the number of candidates who have sat the test has increased since the government intervened to pay the student’s fees but for qualitative, he was quick to point out that more work needs to be done.
According to him, Liberian students are doing very well in Mathematics and English among their colleagues but are not performing at all in the Sciences.
“I observe this, and I think, it is due to the lack of practical knowledge provided to the students, they need to see what they are doing”, he added.
The WAEC head further indicated that if the students are taught over time especially in practical, they will do better in the Sciences.
