Allow ‘stranded’ Bunkpurugu BECE candidates to rewrite now – Activist

Pressure is mounting on the West African Examination Council (WAEC), following its refusal to allow some 200 candidates to rewrite two papers they could not write during the just ended Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at Bunkpurugu in the Northern Region.

An advocacy group, Child Rights International, which has written to WAEC to allow the candidates to write the papers this year, has also threatened to commence legal action if the examination body ignores their request.

Over 200 BECE candidates from two communities in the Bunkpurugu district were unable to sit for the English and Religious and Moral Education (RME) papers taken on June 5, 2017, due to a change in their examination centres.

WAEC subsequently indicated that, such candidates would have to write the papers in February 2018 together with private BECE candidates.

But a letter signed by lawyer Jerry John K. Asiedu on behalf of the advocacy group said they would go to court if a favourable response is not received from WAEC by July 5, 2017.

“Please take notice that unless our clients receive a favourable response from you in this matter on or before the 5th day of July, 2017, we shall be obliged to commence legal proceedings against you for adequate remedy,” the letter added.

Below is the letter:

Prior to the [BECE] examination, the District Coordinator informed the Chief of Kabatiak that, all candidates from his area would take the exam at Bunkpurugu. He later again called to inform the chief that the students should meet at Social Centre- Bindi for the exam.

On 1 June, 2017 the District director called again that students from Kambatiak, Gbingbamoni and Guangbiang Junior High Schools are to report to a newly created centre at Gbankoni for the examination on 4 June, 2017. Up to this point, three different examination centers had been suggested to the students, namely, Bukprugu, Social Centre – Bindi and Gbankoni.

As a result of these apparent inconsistencies emanating from credible sources, our clients were left in a state of confusion as to where to write the examination. In consequence, they could not turn up on the 5 June 2017 for the English and RME papers scheduled for that day. It is our client’s belief that it will be in their best interest to have an immediate rescheduling of two outstanding papers to enable them qualify for enrollment to Senior High School come September, 2017. Unless this is done, our clients face the irreparable prospect of their education being deferred for a whole year through no fault of theirs.

In light of the foregoing we have the instruction of our clients to demand, which we hereby do, an immediate rescheduling of the two outstanding papers.

Please take notice that unless our clients receive a favourable response from you in this matter on or before the 5th day of July, 2017, we shall be obliged to commence legal proceedings against you for adequate remedy.

Be advised accordingly.

Signed

Jerry John K. Asiedu.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

 

Pressure is mounting on the West African Examination Council (WAEC), following its refusal to allow some 200 candidates to rewrite two papers they could not write during the just ended Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at Bunkpurugu in the Northern Region. An advocacy group, Child Rights International, which has written to WAEC to allow the ... Read Full Story