WAEC Warns Schools: Upload Biometric Registration Scores or Miss 2025 WASSCE

 

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued an urgent warning to Senior Secondary Schools nationwide, stressing the need to upload their candidates’ Biometric Registration Scores (BRS) on the WAEC portal by February 15, 2025. Schools that fail to meet this deadline risk disqualifying their students from participating in the 2025 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Low Compliance a Major Concern
WAEC Spokesman, Sallieu Kamara, recently disclosed alarming statistics regarding compliance with this crucial requirement. While 892 Senior Secondary Schools have successfully uploaded their Continuous Assessment Scores (CASS), only 11 schools have completed the mandatory BRS upload. Mr. Kamara expressed concern over the low compliance rate and urged school authorities to act promptly to avoid dire consequences.

Key Timelines for Compliance
WAEC emphasized that schools have been provided with clear timelines for the upload of CASS and BRS, which include:

• CASS Year 1: May 31 to September 30 annually.
• CASS Year 2: October 15 to December 15 annually.
• BRS: November 15 to February 15 annually.

These deadlines have been communicated to relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), the Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, and the Teaching Service Commission (TSC). Despite these efforts, compliance remains worryingly low.

Consequences for Non-Compliance
Schools that fail to upload the BRS by February 15, 2025, will render their students ineligible to sit for the WASSCE. “WAEC will not take responsibility for any school that fails to meet the deadline,” Mr. Kamara warned, underscoring the importance of timely action.

Additionally, WAEC reminded school authorities of the need to include each candidate’s reference number in the BRS. Students seeking to change their school of choice must notify WAEC in writing, with a copy forwarded to the MBSSE, to facilitate necessary adjustments.

Urgent Call to Action for School Principals
Mr. Kamara urged principals of Senior Secondary Schools to ensure the timely completion of the BRS upload process, emphasizing the grave implications of non-compliance. Failure to upload the BRS will result in students being excluded from the critical public examination, jeopardizing their academic futures.

Minister Briefed on the Issue
WAEC has officially briefed the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, on the situation, expressing concern about the potential impact on students if schools fail to comply.

WAEC’s warning serves as a wake-up call for schools to prioritize their administrative obligations, ensuring that their students’ academic journeys remain uninterrupted. Principals are urged to take immediate action to meet the deadline and safeguard their students’ futures.