WAEC rules out second chance for 154 Sekondi College candidates

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has defended its decision to prevent 154 students of Sekondi College from sitting their Chemistry Theory and Objective papers, insisting that examination regulations do not permit late candidates to enter the examination hall after the stipulated reporting time.

The clarification follows appeals from the school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), which has called on WAEC to grant the affected candidates another opportunity to write the examination.

The students were reportedly denied entry to the examination hall on Thursday after arriving late, with parents attributing the delay to heavy rainfall in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.

However, WAEC says preliminary reports suggest many of the affected candidates were already on campus before the examination began.

Speaking to Citi News, WAEC's Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, said information available to the Council indicated that the students did not have to travel long distances to the examination centre.

"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 said.

"And mind you, there were others who were in there already and were writing, according to the report that we received. So, obviously, something may have gone wrong to make some of them not want to get into the examination hall early enough to start the exam."

No special resit

Mr Kapi stressed that WAEC would not organise a special examination for the affected candidates, citing the need to uphold the integrity and uniformity of examinations conducted across the West African sub-region.

According to him, the examination is administered simultaneously in multiple countries, making strict adherence to established rules essential.

He explained that candidates who missed the paper would only have the option of registering for a future examination cycle.

"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 said.

Growing debate

The incident has sparked debate among parents, education stakeholders and the wider public, with some calling for leniency given the circumstances surrounding the candidates' lateness.

The PTA has argued that the students should have been allowed to write the paper with the lost time deducted from their examination period rather than being turned away entirely.

WAEC, however, maintains that the enforcement of examination regulations is necessary to protect the credibility of the assessment process and ensure fairness to all candidates across the region.

The controversy is expected to intensify as parents continue efforts to seek intervention on behalf of the affected students.