Louis Mendy, Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), has denied claims that the delayed release of the 2024 GABESE results is due to outstanding payments to the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC).
In an exclusive interview with TAT, he stated that the Gambian public needs to understand that the West Africa Examination Council is an independent body and cannot be pressured by MoBSE to release examination results.
P.S. Mendy’s reactions reflect the increasing frustrations and concerns expressed by parents currently trying to secure placements for their children in senior secondary schools as the first term of academic education commences across all regions of The Gambia.
“You (Gambian) people should understand that WAEC is an independent body, and when they are marking or conducting exams, we (MoBSE) do not interfere with their work. When they work and finish, that is the time they (WAEC) notify us (MoBSE), but that has not been done. They have not notified us that the results are ready, but because we owe them and cannot release them, that have not been brought to our notice,” PS MoBSE Louis Mendy disclosed to TAT.
He added: “As far as we know, it was only yesterday (2nd September) that they notified us that the results are ready. As soon as they came to us, we sent out a public notice and announced that the results were ready and would be publicly announced on Friday. If not for the confidentiality of the issue, I would have invited you to my office. I saw you the email, the date and time they notified us.”
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) denies claims that this year’s GABESE’s delayed release is uncommon in the country. The ministry insists that the 2022 and 2023 GABESE results were also delayed. They further state that this situation will not impact the learning processes of Grade 10 students.
He emphasized that MoBSE refuses to interfere in WAEC’s work because his ministry desires to ensure that Gambian students are assessed accordingly. He added that the ministry’s noninterference ensures that students are examined and evaluated properly and accurately.
