The Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) of Sekondi College has appealed to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to consider conducting a fresh examination for the 154 students who were prevented from writing the first part of the Chemistry paper.
In a petition to the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, sighted by ConnectNews, the Association pleaded with him to use his good offices to intervene in the matter.
“We are pleading with the Regional Minister to do something for us. He is our father on this Western land. If WAEC can convene another examination for us, we will be grateful,” PTA Chairperson Mercy Dadzie later told ConnectNews.
She assured that the Association is prepared to bear all costs associated with conducting a new examination. “We are worried because even though they have written the practical paper, it will not be enough. They did not write the other half.”
Meanwhile, ConnectNews has reliably gathered that all the students, including those affected, sat for the practical paper. They are, however, appealing for a special dispensation in the marking of their scripts.
An Executive Member of the PTA, Emmanuel Agbevoh, recounted how the WAEC official stationed at the school refused to admit the students despite several hours of pleading.
“I was already on campus for an assignment connected to the school’s 75th anniversary when I was informed of the situation, so I rushed to the scene. Together with other staff members, we pleaded profusely for hours. I argued that some of the students were only five minutes late, while others were ten minutes late, and therefore should be considered. I even suggested that they be punished by being given only one hour to write the paper, but he stood his ground and insisted that he would not allow them into the examination hall.
“Later, 25 of the day students were allowed entry to write,” he said.
By Eric Yaw Adjei
