Over 15 students from Osu Presbyterian Senior High School (SHS) in Accra faced the shocking possibility of being barred from writing the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on Monday due to their lateness. The students arrived late for the crucial first core subject paper, Social Studies, which is a clear violation of the rules set by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC).
According to WAEC regulations, candidates must be seated 30 minutes before the commencement of their exam. However, these students disregarded the rule and showed up at their own convenience.
Vincent Esuah, the Exam Supervisor for the Centre and headmaster of the school, expressed his frustration to the media, highlighting that these candidates are notorious for being habitual latecomers. He emphasized that he will not relax the strict rules governing the examination for anyone.
“WAEC operates under strict rules and regulations, one of which is that students must be seated 30 minutes before a paper begins. We had already experienced a delay, and as we started the paper, they were just arriving. These students have no valid excuse for their lateness; they are simply perpetual latecomers. If questioned, they will reveal why they are late, but I will not permit any breaches of the rules, especially without a special reason,” Esuah stated firmly.
In a related development, Dr. Rosemond Wilson, Head at the WAEC National Office, has directed all supervisors across the country to enforce the 30-minute reporting time before the start of exams to prevent potential cheating.
“Our rules clearly state that students must be seated 30 minutes before an exam begins, and they are prohibited from leaving 30 minutes before the end of the paper. Supervisors must strictly adhere to this rule to ensure the smooth conduct of the exams. Additionally, candidates must provide a valid reason for any lateness,” Dr. Wilson affirmed.