WAEC rejects special paper for 154 Sekondi College students who arrived late for Chemistry exam
The West African Examinations Council has defended its decision to bar 154 candidates of Sekondi College from writing Thursday’s Chemistry theory and objective papers, saying exam rules do not allow late students into the hall after the reporting time.
The Council’s response comes after the Parent-Teacher Association of Sekondi College asked WAEC to give the affected students another chance. The PTA claimed heavy rainfall caused the lateness, and that an external invigilator refused them entry.
WAEC Cites Strict Regional Exam Rules
Speaking to Citi News, WAEC Head of Public Affairs John Kapi said the West African Senior School Certificate Examination is written at the same time across all member countries. He stressed that strict adherence to rules is key to protecting the exam’s credibility.
According to Mr. Kapi, initial reports from the school showed most of the 154 students were already on campus when the exam began. Some were reportedly in the ICT lab, classrooms, and dormitories, and did not need to travel from outside.
“The information reaching us indicates that some were at the ICT lab, some were in the classroom, some were in the dormitories; they didn’t have to travel any distance to get to the examination hall,” he explained.
He added that other candidates from the same school were already in the hall writing the paper, which suggests the late students could have entered earlier.
No Rewrite Until Next Exam Cycle
Mr. Kapi said WAEC will not arrange a special retake for the affected candidates. They will have to wait for the next scheduled exam period.
“They will only have a chance to rewrite in another cycle of examination. So, for example, if we are going to conduct a NOV/DEC this year, they are at liberty to register and write,” he stated.
The incident has sparked debate among parents and education advocates, with some urging WAEC to show leniency given the weather conditions. The Council, however, insists that allowing late entry would set a precedent that could undermine the integrity of the WASSCE.
About The Author
