Sekondi College PTA appeals to WAEC after 154 students miss Chemistry exam

The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of Sekondi College has announced plans to petition the West African Examinations Council after 154 final-year students were reportedly prevented from writing their Chemistry Theory and Objective paper during the ongoing examinations.

The affected candidates were denied entry to the examination hall on Wednesday after arriving late at the examination centre following heavy rainfall in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, according to the PTA.

Parents are now appealing to WAEC to grant the students another opportunity to sit the paper, arguing that the circumstances were beyond their control and should not jeopardise their academic future.

Speaking to Citi News on Friday, PTA Chairperson Mercy Dadzie said the association would formally petition WAEC and also seek the intervention of the Western Regional Minister to help resolve the matter.

She explained that some students arrived only a few minutes after the examination had begun but were turned away by an external invigilator.

"There is a law governing examinations. Even if the children were late, they should have been allowed to write the paper, with the lost time deducted from their examination period," she said.

"They could also have been sanctioned for the lateness. At least they would have had the opportunity to attempt the questions and earn some marks. We are pleading with WAEC to help us. This concerns the future of these children."

The incident has sparked concern among parents and education stakeholders, with many calling for a review of the circumstances surrounding the decision.

WAEC has yet to publicly comment on the matter.

Heightened examination security

The development comes amid heightened examination security measures during this year's examinations, following several reported cases of examination malpractice across parts of Ghana.

In recent weeks, invigilators and supervisors have intensified efforts to prevent cheating, unauthorised access to examination materials and the use of electronic devices in examination centres.

WAEC has repeatedly warned candidates against engaging in malpractice, including the possession of foreign materials, collusion, impersonation and the circulation of examination questions on social media platforms.

Education authorities have also been working to curb the growing challenge of question leakage and organised cheating syndicates, which have in previous years led to the cancellation or withholding of examination results for some candidates.

While WAEC's strict enforcement measures are intended to protect the integrity of the examinations, parents of the affected Sekondi College students argue that the circumstances surrounding the late arrival of the candidates were exceptional and warrant special consideration.