ACC COMMISSIONER SOUNDS ALARM OVER WIDESPREAD EXAM MALPRACTICE IN SIERRA LEONE
By: Mercellina F. Koroma
Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala, has warned that widespread examination malpractice is eroding the quality and credibility of Sierra Leone’s education system.
Addressing the weekly press conference at the Miatta Conference Centre on Tuesday 26th August 2026, Kaifala said the ACC has uncovered deliberate and coordinated attempts to compromise public examinations nationwide.
He traced the scale of the problem to 2018, shortly after he assumed office, when the Commission discovered an examination hub at Aberdeen Road in Freetown.
“Students were allegedly taking examinations as late as 11 p.m., and the papers were later placed among official examination packages,” Kaifala said. “We reported the matter to the relevant authorities.”The Commissioner said follow-up investigations revealed a network involving teachers, school principals, parents and some examination officials.
“This is not isolated to one region. It is widespread. Parents are allegedly paying money to ensure their children access examination answers and other forms of assistance,” he stated.
Citing resource constraints, Francis said the ACC conducted a random monitoring exercise during the recent National Primary School Examination. Of about 300 schools monitored, a smaller number were physically inspected.
The exercise led to the seizure of numerous mobile phones from candidates and invigilators. Inspectors also observed cases where answers were allegedly written on blackboards, with coordination between people inside and outside exam halls. Kaifala described the trend as a “serious national problem” that threatens public trust in education.
He said those entrusted with protecting examination integrity officials, teachers and school authorities must live up to their responsibilities.
Those who deliberately undermine the system must face the law,” he warned. He called for stronger collaboration among government, civil society and development partners, and for pooled resources to tackle malpractice and restore confidence in examinations at all levels.
