SEKCO PTA petitions WAEC over 154 students barred from Chemistry exam

The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of Sekondi College (SEKCO) has announced plans to petition the West African Examinations Council to allow 154 candidates who were prevented from writing their Chemistry Theory and Objective paper to retake the examination.

The students were reportedly denied entry into the examination hall on Wednesday after arriving late for the paper, following heavy rainfall that affected movement across parts of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.

The incident has sparked concern among parents, school authorities, and education stakeholders, with many calling for a review of the decision in the interest of the affected candidates.

Speaking to Citi News on Friday, June 12, the Chairperson of the SEKCO PTA, Mercy Dadzie, disclosed that parents would formally petition WAEC and also seek the support of the Western Regional Coordinating Council through the Western Regional Minister to help resolve the matter.

According to her, the affected students were unable to arrive on time due to severe weather conditions and traffic disruptions caused by the heavy downpour.

She explained that some candidates, including her own child, reached the examination centre only a few minutes after the paper had commenced but were refused entry by an external invigilator.

Mrs. Dadzie argued that although examination regulations may address lateness, the affected students should have been given an opportunity to sit for the paper, even if sanctions were imposed or the lost time deducted from their examination period.

She emphasized that denying the students access to the examination altogether could have far-reaching consequences for their academic future.

“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. They could also have been sanctioned for the lateness,” she said.

“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 exclusion of 154 candidates from a core science subject has raised concerns among parents and education advocates, particularly given the importance of Chemistry in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Many of the affected students are expected to rely on their Chemistry results for admission into tertiary institutions and professional programmes, including medicine, engineering, nursing, and other science-related fields.

Parents argue that exceptional circumstances, such as extreme weather conditions, should be considered when applying examination regulations.

The PTA is expected to formally engage WAEC in the coming days, urging the examination body to provide an alternative arrangement for the affected students.

Parents are hopeful that intervention from educational authorities and regional officials could lead to a solution that protects the academic future of the candidates while maintaining the integrity of the examination process.

The incident has reignited discussions about examination procedures during emergencies and the need for flexibility when unforeseen circumstances affect candidates’ ability to report to examination centres on time.