99% Candidates Fail UL Entrance Exams; Only 16 Out of 15,000 Pass Successfully

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf recently admitted that Liberian education system was "in a mess" and noted that the system needed reform; the president description has again surfaces with the poor performances of Liberian students in public exams especially those seeking admission in various universities across the country. The authorities of the University of Liberia (UL) has released the official results of the 2014 Entrance and Placement Exams recently administered to over 15,000 candidates seeking admission in the Undergraduate Program.

Out of the 15,000 candidates, only 16 candidates constituting 0.6% made a successful pass in both Mathematic and English Exams while 14,984 candidates constituting 99% performed very poorly in both subjects. According to statistical reports, off the 15,000 candidates, 14,885 came from 362 schools across the country, with 12,500 from schools in Montserrado.

The 16 successful candidates include Christian Ben of St. Michael Catholic’s High in New Georgia; Boakai Camara Cuttington Communication in Bong County; theophilus Cooper of St. John High in Robertsport; Ezekiel Gbaintoe of Saclepea Mission in Nimba; Solomon Marlee of Harbel Multilateran High in Margibi; Hendlene Morris of Buduburam, Ghana and Festus Nagbe of CMFIB School in 7nd Paynesville.

Others are Naomi Nyuman of Monrovia College on Clay Street; Christopher Nyumalin of BWI on broad Street; Wellington Philips of JJ Roberts High on 12th Street;Vuyu sando of CWA on Ashuman Street; James Saylee of SDA in Buchanan; Mohanmmed Sheriff of Star Baptish in Jacob Town, Paynesville; Tracee Tano of JLM Morris in Paynesville; Obadiah Vah of Royal Christian in Paynesville and Solomon Willie of Calvary temple in Jacob Town, Paynesville.

According the university administration, the 16 candidates met the beach mark of 50% in Mathematics and 70% in English. However, the university said it has decided to considered 1,360 candidates for admission on a provisional basis because they have scored 50% in either Mathematics or English.

However, they wouldn’t be consider as students of the university until they can enroll for one academic semester and make a successful pass. The UL administration further indicates that 1360 candidates could not meet the beach mark in both subjects.

Commenting on the mass failures, the Acting President for academic affairs, Dr. S. Momolu Gataweh has expressed dismayed over the poor performances of the nearly 15,000 candidates.

The "epic fail" of nearly all candidates in the UL admission exam provoked bafflement and consternation for Liberia’s educational system, with some convinced that flaws in Liberia's education system had been brutally exposed.

According to university officials, the applicants lacked enthusiasm and did not have a basic grasp of English. "In English, the mechanics of the language, they didn't know anything about it. So the government has to do something."

President Johnson Sirleaf recently admitted that the education system was "in a mess" and in need of reform. But this is the first time that all students who took the exam, which entails payment of a $20 performed very poorly.