Over 15 candidates sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at the Osu Presbyterian Senior High School were nearly prevented from writing the Social Studies paper due to their late arrival. The incident occurred during a visit by a delegation from the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), led by the Head of the National Office, Dr. Rosemond Wilson.
According to the Headmaster of the Osu Presbyterian Senior High School, Vincent Esuah, the students have a history of being late for school functions, including exams. Esuah emphasized his commitment to strictly enforcing examination rules, citing WAEC’s regulations, which state that students must be seated 30 minutes before a paper starts.
The headmaster explained that the students’ tardiness was not due to any unforeseen circumstances, but rather a habit of perpetual lateness. Dr. Rosemond Wilson clarified that exam supervisors at all centers must enforce the 30-minute pre-exam seating requirement to prevent potential cheating and ensure a smooth conduct of the exam.
Wilson emphasized that candidates are required to give a valid reason for their lateness, which was not provided by the students in question. Despite the initial exclusion, the students were eventually allowed to write the exam after a delay of almost an hour, following further discussions with the WAEC delegation.
The headmaster has been tasked with submitting a report to WAEC explaining why he allowed the students to sit for the Social Studies paper despite their lateness, which contravened the examination rules. The incident highlights the importance of adhering to examination rules and regulations to maintain the integrity of the WASSCE.
