2006 Sierra Leone Examiners Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF

ENTRIES, RESULTS AND CHIEF EXAMINERS’ REPORTS

ON THE 2006 WEST AFRICAN SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

EXAMINATION (WASSCE) CONDUCTED IN

SIERRA LEONE

MAY/JUNE 2006 WASSCE (FOR SCHOOL CANDIDATES)

(1)

Statistics of Entries and Results

(a)

Entry Figures

• Number of candidates that sat the examination

16,165

• Number of Male candidates

11,447

• Number of Female candidates

4,718

(b)

Subject Entries for Three Years (2004 - 2006)

(i)

Table I: Subjects with Entry Figures of over 10,000 in the

May/June 2004 - 2006 WASSCE in Sierra Leone

Entries

% Increase

Subject

2004

2005

2006

Over 2005

English Language

11,712

13,375

16,165

20.86

Mathematics

11,705

13,340

16,140

20.99

Biology

9,812

11,082

13,587

22.60

Economics

8,926

10,425

12,453

19.45

(ii)

Table II: Subjects with Entry Figures of between 1,000

and 10,000 in the May/June 2004 - 2006 WASSCE

in Sierra Leone

Entries

% Increase

Subject

2004

2005

2006

Over 2005

Literature-In-English

7,916

8,622

9,941

15.29

History

5,408

6,032

6,830

13.23

Agricultural Science

4,972

5,570

8,173

46.73

Government

4,770

5,406

6,150

13.76

Commerce

4,362

5,092

6,117

20.13

Business Management

4,245

4,823

5,914

22.62

Financial Accounting

3,868

4,480

5,654

26.21

Principles of Cost Accounting

3,409

4,036

4,983

23.46

Chemistry

2,914

3,326

4,204

26.39

Christian Religious Knowledge

2,662

2,960

3,369

13.82

Physics

2,475

2,867

3,518

22.71

Geography

2,165

2,643

4,303

62.81

Further Mathematics

1,717

1,857

2,157

16.16

Health Science

1,324

1,669

2,127

27.44

Islamic Studies

810

907

1,007

11.03

(iii)

Table III: Subjects with Entry Figures of between 100 and 1,000

Entries

% Increase

Subject

2004

2005

2006

Over 2005

Physical Education

460

577

870

50.78

Science (Core)

355

514

745

44.94

Home Management

427

463

827

78.62

French

288

372

283

(-23.92)

Foods & Nutrition

283

347

440

26.80

Engineering Science

287

328

389

18.59

Technical Drawing

167

178

205

15.17

Clothing & Textiles

122

154

230

49.35

Clerical Office

104

119

14.42

Duties

(iv)

Table IV: Subjects with Entry Figures of less than 100

Entries

% Increase

Subject

2004

2005

2006

Over 2005

Shorthand

(-67.5)

Electronics

(-40.0)

Woodwork

5.71

Applied Electricity

14.29

Metalwork

70.59

Arabic

(-56.25)

Management-In-Living

60.0

Building Construction

(-50.0)

Visual Art

25.0

Typewriting

191

178

(-51.69)

(c)

Interpretation of Entry Statistics

(i)

Overall entry figure increased steadily during the 3-year period.

(ii)

Subject entries increased in most cases but dropped in six

subjects.

(iii)

Apart from English and Mathematics, the highest entry figures

for the three-year period were recorded in Biology and

Economics.

(iv)

The highest increase in entry figures in 2006 was recorded in

Home Management, Metalwork, Geography, Management-in-

Living and Physical Education.

(v)

Less than 10% of the candidates registered for the Technical

and Vocational subjects.

(vi)

The lowest entry figure was recorded in Building Construction

and Arabic.

(vii)

Shorthand, Arabic, Typewriting, Building Construction and

Electronics recorded the highest percentage decrease in the 2006

entry figures relative to the 2005 figures.

(2)

Statistics of Results

(a)

Table V: Three-Year Performance Trend in Eighteen (18) Popular

Subjects in the May/June WASSCE in Sierra Leone

% of Passes at Credit

% of Failure

Subject

Level (Grades A1-C6)

(Grade F9)

2004

2005

2006

2004

2005

2006

English Language

9.56

11.60

11.20

51.98

45.84

51.88

Mathematics

4.10

3.25

3.62

86.80

88.65

85.74

Biology

4.75

1.68

11.25

86.51

91.29

68.57

Economics

6.96

7.78

7.79

64.34

56.18

62.94

Literature-In-English

7.68

10.14

5.62

66.21

59.29

70.61

History

53.42

42.94

45.15

38.26

27.77

28.90

Agricultural Science

15.10

3.20

11.45

80.09

82.23

68.00

Government

29.16

47.93

47.66

43.10

28.86

25.90

Commerce

7.79

10.19

78.69

74.32

73.10

64.31

Business Management

13.55

9.39

44.93

69.07

73.09

33.53

Financial Accounting

25.67

11.65

10.58

44.62

57.99

57.48

Principles of Cost Accounting

9.86

12.64

15.41

76.03

70.94

66.21

Chemistry

9.37

4.51

8.42

74.98

88.54

79.21

Christian Religious Knowledge

6.95

22.20

10.69

74.61

50.74

71.56

Physics

22.67

5.13

10.46

53.90

81.06

70.98

Geography

9.38

9.50

16.17

59.63

66.59

58.28

Further Mathematics

3.96

4.63

2.87

83.63

83.14

74.92

Health Science

10.50

9.35

9.92

64.65

64.11

69.72

(b)

Candidates’ overall Performance in the May/June 2006 WASSCE

Candidates’ overall performance in the May/June 2006 WASSCE did

not show any significant improvement when compared to the previous

year. Details of the number and percentage of candidates that passed

in each grade per subject are as follows:-

(i)

Subjects in which at least 25% of the Candidates

Obtained Grades A1-C6

At least twenty-five per cent (25%) of the candidates obtained

grades A1-C6 in the following subjects:-

Clothing & Textiles

(61.30%)

Metalwork

(58.62%)

Physical Education

(41.03%)

Government

(47.66%)

Business Management (44.93%)

History

(45.15%)

Building Construction (42.86%)

French

(29.68%)

Engineering Science

(35.48%)

Arabic

(28.57%)

Foods & Nutrition

(48.18%)

Science (Core)(59.33%)

Applied Electricity

(50.00%)

Home Management

(41.84%)

Clothing & Textiles, Science (Core) and Metalwork led the

group with 61.30%, 59.33%, 58.62% respectively.

(ii)

Subjects in which less than 25% of the Candidates

Obtained Grades A1-C6

Less than twenty-five per cent of the candidates obtained

grades A1-C6 in twenty-two subjects.

Management-In-

Living

(20.83%)

Physics

(10.64%)

Clerical Office Duties

(20.17%)

Visual Arts

(20.00%)

Health Science

(9.92%)

Commerce

(18.69%)

Further Mathematics

(9.32%)

Geography

(16.17%)

Principles of Cost

Accounting

(15.41%)

Chemistry

(8.42%)

Technical Drawing

(11.71%)

Woodwork

(8.11%)

Agricultural Science

(11.45%)

Economics

(7.77%)

English Language

(11.20%)

Electronics

(4.76%)

Christian Religious

Knowledge

(10.69%)

Mathematics

(3.63%)

Financial Accounting (10.58%)

Islamic Studies (2.98%)

Literature-In-English

(5.65%)

Shorthand

(0.00%)

(iii)

Subjects in which more than 40% of Candidates Failed

The following subjects recorded high failure rate with more

than 40% of the candidates obtaining grade F9:-

Further Mathematics

(74.92%)

Commerce

(64.31%)

Financial Accounting (57.48%)

Mathematics

(85.74%)

Principles of Cost

Accounting

(66.21%)

Biology

(68.57%)

Agricultural Science

(68.00%)

Shorthand

(100.00%)

Christian Religious

Knowledge

(71.56%)

Typewriting

(87.21%)

Health Science

(69.72%)

Chemistry

(79.21%)

Islamic Studies

(80.73%)

Economics

(62.94%)

Literature-In-English

(70.61%)

Geography

(58.28%)

English Language

(51.88%)

Physics

(70.98%)

Engineering Science

(40.10%)

Electronics

(57.14%)

Technical Drawing

(70.24%)

Woodwork

(75.68%)

Visual Arts

(55.12%)

French

(55.12%)

(c)

Interpretation of Performance Statistics

(i)

On the average, less than 50% of candidates passed at credit

level (A1-C6) in the three-year period;

(ii)

Less than 15% of the candidates passed at credit level in English

Language, Mathematics and Economics in the three-year period;

(iii)

Between 5% and 15% of the candidates passed at credit level in the

science subjects in the three-year period.

(d)

Policy Implications of Statistics of Entries and performance

(i)

Access to education increased over the three-year period as shown by

the increase in overall entry figures for the three-year period.

(ii)

Quality of education was poor over the three-year period as shown in

the percentage of candidates that passed at credit level (A1-C6) in most

subjects especially English Language, Mathematics, the Sciences as

well as the Vocational subjects.

(iii)

The generally poor performance of candidates over the three-year

period is indicative of poor (and perhaps, declining) quality of

education at the senior secondary school level.

(iv)

The low level of performance in English Language and Mathematics

over the three-year period calls for a review of the strategies for the

teaching and learning of the two subjects.

(e)

Recommendations

(i)

Government should address the declining entries in subjects like

Electronics, French as well as the Technical and Vocational subjects.

(ii)

Government and school authorities should identify the causative

factors for the poor (and in some cases steadily declining) performance

level of school candidates at the senior secondary school level.

(iii)

Government and school authorities should apply necessary

intervention strategies for quality assurance in education at the

secondary level.

(iv)

Critical issues such as the learning environment, appropriate

infrastructure, required teaching aids and equipment,

appropriate number and quality of teachers, etc., should be

addressed by the appropriate authorities in the education sector.

(v)

Government and school authorities should engage the services of

qualified teachers of English Language and Mathematics and provide

appropriate teaching/learning equipment/facilities.

(vi) Government and school authorities should encourage the development

of literary and debating societies and other subject-based societies

(especially in the Sciences, Mathematics and vocational/technical

subjects), sponsorship of intra-school and inter-school debates,

quizzes and essay contests, among others.

(vii)

Government should take necessary steps to make relevant books

readily available and affordable for students’ use.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 WASSCE (FOR PRIVATE

CANDIDATES)

(1)

ENTRY FIGURES

• Number of candidates that entered the examination

5,739

• Number of Male candidates

3,953

• Number of Female candidates

1,786

(a)

Table I: Subject Entries 2006 (Private candidates) WASSCE

There were twenty-nine subjects from which candidates made their

subject choices. A summary of the subject entries on gender basis

is as follows:-

Subject

Male

Female

Total

English Language

3,708 (69.36)

1,638 (30.64%)

5,346

Mathematics

2,620 (66.79%)

1,303 (33.21%)

3,923

Commerce

1,332 (67.68%)

636

1,968

(32.32%)

Business

1,124 (63.65%)

642

1,766

Management

(36.35%)

Financial

1,178 (62.93%)

694

1,872

Accounting

(37.07%)

Principles of Cost

969 (65.3%)

515 (34.70%)

1,484

Accounting

Clerical Office

Duties

(22.22%)

(77.78%)

Typewriting

(14.29%)

(86.71%)

Shorthand

0 (0.00%)

3 (100.00%)

Economics

2,631 (67.41%)

1,272 (32.59%)

3,903

Literature-In-English

1,127 (70.39%)

474

1,601

(29.61%)

Government

1,299 (73.64%)

465 (26.36%)

1,764

History

1,225 (74.83%)

412

1,637

(25.17%)

Christian Religious

577

279

856

Knowledge

(67.41%)

(32.59%)

Geography

503

578

(87.02%)

(12.98%)

Islamic Studies

299

340

(87.94%)

(12.06%)

French

(64.47%)

(35.53%)

Arabic

(90.00%)

(10.00%)

Biology

1,365 (65.06%)

733

2,098

(34.94%)

Agricultural Science

1,137 (80.70%)

272

1,409

(19.30%)

Chemistry

812

300

1,112

(73.02%)

(26.98%)

Physics

672 (76.98%)

201(23.02%)

873

Health Science

269

103

372

(72.31%)

(27.69%)

Science (Core)

258

324

(79.63%)

(20.37%)

Physical Education

164 (78.47%)

458 (21.53%)

209

Further Mathematics

363 (86.84%)

55 (13.16%)

418

(b)

Interpretation of Entry Statistics

(i)

Entries for Typewriting, Shorthand and Arabic and the

Science subjects were very low.

(ii)

The overall entry figure for males was more than that

of females.

(iii)

English Language, Mathematics and Economics

recorded high entries.

(iv)

The lowest entry of less than 1% was recorded in

Arabic, Shorthand and Typewriting.

(2)

Statistics of Performance

(a)

Table II: Performance in Core Subjects

Male

Female

Total

Subject

No.

No. &

No.

No. &

No.

No. &

Sat

% Pass

Sat

% Pass

Sat

% Pass

A1-C6

English Language

3,708

572

1,638

226

5,34

798

(15.42)

(13.80)

(14.93)

Mathematics

2,620

389

1,303

3,92

468

(14.85)

(6.06)

(11.93)

(b)

Table III: Performance in Business Subjects

Male

Female

Total

Subject

No.

No. &

No.

No. &

No.

No. &

Sat

% Pass

Sat

A1-C6

Pass

A1-C6

Commerce

1,332

304

636

1,968

377

(22.82)

(11.48)

(19.16)

Business Management

1,124

533

642

182

1,766

715

(47.42)

(28.35)

(40.49)

Financial Accounting

1,178

212

694

1,872

267

(18.00)

(7.93)

(14.26)

Principles of Cost Accounting

969

358

515

1,484

452

(36.95)

(18.25)

(30.46)

Clerical Office Duties

(41.67)

(52.38)

(50.00)

Typewriting

(0.00)

(16.67)

(14.29)

(c)

Table IV: Performance in Arts Subjects

Male

Female

Total

Subject

No.

No. &

No.

No. &

No.

No. &

Sat

Pass

A1-C6

Economics

2,631

470

1,27

124

3,903

594

(17.86)

(9.75)

(15.22)

Literature-In-

1,127

153

474

1,601

191

English

(13.58)

(8.02)

(11.93)

Government

1,299

576

465

105

1,764

681

(44.34)

(22.58)

(38.61)

History

1,225

723

412

165

1,637

888

(59.02)

(40.05)

(54.25)

Christian Religious

577

199

279

856

279

Knowledge

(34.49)

(28.67)

(32.59)

Geography

503

578

(9.34)

(1.33)

(8.30)

Islamic Studies

299

118

340

126

(39.46)

(19.51)

(37.06)

(d)

Table V: Performance in Language Subjects

Male

Female

Total

Subject

No.

No. &

No.

No. &

No.

No. &

Sat

% Pass

Sat

Pass

A1-C6

Pass

A1-C6

English

3,708

572

1,638

226

5,346

798

Language

(15.43)

(13.80)

(14.93)

French

3 (11.11)

(40.82)

(30.26)

Arabic

(22.22)

(100.00)

(30.00)

(e)

Table VI: Performance in Science and Mathematical

Subjects

Subject

Male

Female

Total

No.

No. &

No.

No. &

No.

No. &

Sat

% Pass

Sat

% Pass

Sat

% Pass

A1-C6

Mathematics

2,620

389

1,303

3,923

468

(14.85)

(6.06)

(11.93)

Biology

1,365

163

733

2,098

216

(11.94)

(7.23)

(10.30)

Agricultural Science

1,137

177

272

1,409

195

(15.57)

(6.62)

(13.84)

Chemistry

812

300

1,112

(10.22)

(5.00)

(8.81)

Physics

672

110

201

873

121

(16.37)

(5.47)

(13.86)

Health Science

269

103

372

(26.39)

(20.39)

(24.73)

Science (Core)

258

130

324

142

(50.39)

(18.18)

(43.83)

Physical Education

164

209

113

(56.10)

(46.67)

(54.07)

Further Mathematics

363

418

(13.22)

(5.45)

(12.20)

(f)

Interpretation of Performance Statistics

(i)

Performance in the Core subjects - English Language

and Mathematics - was poor. 14.93% of the

candidates passed at credit level in English Language.

(ii)

Between 14% and 30% of the candidates passed at

credit level in the Business subjects.

(iii)

Over 35% of the candidates passed at credit level in

History, Christian Religious Knowledge and Islamic

Studies.

(iv)

Between 8% and 13% of the candidates passed at credit

level in Biology, Physics and Chemistry.

(g)

Recommendations

The statistics of entries and performance for the

November/December WASSCE did not vary significantly in

pattern from those of the May/June WASSCE. As such, the

Recommendations made for the May/June WASSCE may also

be applicable to the November/December WASSCE.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF CHIEF EXAMINERS’ REPORTS ON THE

MAY/JUNE 2006 WASSCE IN SIERRA LEONE

(1)

Standard of the Papers

The Chief Examiners reported that the papers compared favourably with

those of previous years and that the Marking Schemes were comprehensive

and adequate in the allocation of marks.

(2)

Performance of Candidates

The Chief Examiners’ reports indicated that candidates’ performance

varied from poor to good with occasional flashes of brilliance.

Candidates’ performance were reported to be good in Business Management

2, Clerical Office Duties 2, Principles of Cost Accounting 2, Typewriting 2,

Engineering Science 2, Woodwork 1, Applied Electricity 2 and Metalwork 1.

An improved performance was reported in Economics 2, Literature-In-

English 3, Agricultural Science 1, Biology 1, Science 2, Physics 1 & 2,

Physical Education 1, Management-In-Living 3, Clothing & Textiles 2 and

Visual Arts 1.

Candidates’ performance was reported to be poor in Financial Accounting 2,

Shorthand, Christian Religious Knowledge 2, Geography 1 & 2, Literature-

In-English 2, English Language 1, Mathematics 2, Agricultural Science 2,

Biology 2, Chemistry 2, Health Science 2, Physical Education 2, Technical

Drawing 2, Woodwork 1, 2 & 3, Metalwork 2, Home Management 2,

Management-In-Living 2, Foods and Nutrition 2, Government 2, French 2

and Further Mathematics 2.

(3)

Candidates’ Strengths

The Chief Examiners’ complimented the candidates for demonstrating

the following strengths:

(a)

Mastery of the subject matter.

( b)

Adherence to rubrics.

(c)

Good communication skills

(4)

Candidates’ Weaknesses

The Chief Examiners’ reported the following observed weaknesses in the

candidates:

(a)

Inadequate knowledge of the subject matter.

(b)

Inadequate preparation.

(c)

Poor knowledge of grammar.

(d)

Poor time management.

(e)

Poor mathematical background.

(f)

Poor Handwriting

(g)

Non-adherence to Rubrics

(h)

Poor Diagrams and Illustrations

(i)

Inappropriate Apparatus/Materials

(5)

Suggested Remedies

The Chief Examiners’ proffered the following suggestions

for improving candidates’ performance:

(a)

Candidates should learn and understand command

words to help them answer questions correctly.

(b)

Candidates should prepare adequately for the examination.

(c)

Candidates should adhere strictly to the rubrics.

(d)

Schools should endeavour to provide candidates with

the correct Specimen/Apparatus.

(e)

Candidates should apportion their time appropriately and

stop the use of preambles and lengthy introductions.

(f)

Candidates should limit their answers to the demands of

the question.

(g)

Teachers should teach concepts and principles correctly.

(h)

Candidates should be exposed to practical work as

early as SSS1 level.

(i)

Candidate should be taught how to express their ideas

vividly in a variety of sentence patterns and structures.

(j)

Candidates should be taught the mechanics of English

and French grammar.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF CHIEF EXAMINERS’ REPORTS ON

THE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 WASSCE

(1)

Standard of the Papers

Most of the Chief Examiners reported that the papers were of the required

standard and compared favourably with those of previous years.

(2)

Performance of Candidates

The performance of candidates was variously reported to have been average,

below average and poor with occasional instances of good performance.

A fairly good performance was reported in Business Management 1,

Typewriting 2, Christian Religious Knowledge 1 and Engineering Science 1.

A poor performance was reported in Clerical-Office-Duties 2, Commerce 2,

Principles of Cost Accounting 2, Shorthand 2, Economics 2, Geography

1B & 2, Government 2, Literature-In-English 3, Mathematics 2, Further

Mathematics, Agricultural Science 3, Biology 2 & 3, Chemistry 2 & 3,

Financial Accounting 2 and Technical Drawing 1.

(3)

Candidates’ Strengths

The Chief Examiners commended the candidates for demonstrating the

following strengths:

(a)

Adequate knowledge of the subject matter.

(b)

Adherence to rubrics.

(b) Good oral and written expression.

(4)

Candidates’ Weaknesses

The Chief Examiners’ reports on candidates’ weaknesses were diverse.

These were notably:-

(a)

Inadequate knowledge of the subject matter.

(b)

Poor knowledge of grammar/spellings.

(c)

Inadequate coverage of the syllabus.

(5)

Suggested Remedies

The following remedies were suggested to improve candidates’

performance:

(a)

Candidates should endeavour to complete the syllabus.

(b)

Candidates should improve on their oral and written

expression, especially in French and English Language.

(c)

Candidates should be encouraged to acquire and use the

prescribed texts.

(d)

The contact time between teachers and students should be

improved upon.

(e)

Candidates should apportion their time appropriately when

answering questions.

WAEC HEADQUARTERS ACCRA

2008