WASSCE 2023: 154 Sekondi College Students Barred Over Lateness as Violence Rocks Wa Ahmadiyya SHS

The ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) period has been marked by significant administrative and security challenges across Ghana. In the Western Region, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has stood firm on its decision to bar 154 candidates from Sekondi College from sitting for their Chemistry practical examination. Meanwhile, in the Upper West Region, a violent confrontation at Wa Ahmadiyya Senior High School (Wa-Amass) involving students, the school's cadet corps, and local youth has prompted a police investigation and heightened security concerns within the educational sector.

The situation at Sekondi College has sparked a heated debate between parents and examination authorities. WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, justified the decision to exclude the 154 students, citing strict examination protocols that prohibit entry after the designated reporting time. Although the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) pleaded for leniency, arguing that heavy rainfall delayed the candidates, WAEC countered that internal reports indicated the students were already present on campus but failed to report to the examination hall on time. Mr. Kapi emphasized that because the WASSCE is a regionally coordinated assessment, special resits cannot be organized for individual schools. Consequently, the affected students must wait until the next examination cycle to retake the paper.

In a separate and more volatile incident, the Wa Ahmadiyya Senior High School was thrown into chaos when youth from the Charia community stormed the campus following a dispute between students and members of the school’s cadet corps. The conflict reportedly began when several final-year students, who had previously been suspended for misconduct, returned to the school to write their WASSCE papers. These students allegedly threatened cadet members who had originally reported their misbehavior, leading to a violent escalation that left some cadets with cutlass wounds. The intervention of the Ghana Police Service was required to restore order, resulting in the arrest of several students as investigations continue into the cause of the clash.

Following the violence at Wa-Amass, a committee has recommended that all students who have completed their WASSCE papers vacate the school premises immediately to prevent further unrest. This measure highlights the growing concern over campus discipline and the safety of students during the examination season. These dual incidents—one involving the rigid enforcement of academic regulations and the other highlighting a breakdown in campus security—underscore the complex environment in which this year's WASSCE is being conducted. Educational stakeholders are now calling for a balance between strict policy adherence and the need for robust security frameworks to protect both the integrity of the exams and the well-being of the candidates.