Confusion and frustration gripped several secondary schools in Taraba State on Wednesday as students sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) experienced an unexpected delay in their scheduled English Language paper.
The examination, which was slated to begin at 8:00 a.m., had not commenced as of the time this report was filed. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has yet to provide an official explanation for the postponement, leaving students, parents, and school authorities in a state of uncertainty.
Several concerned parents, who arrived at examination centers to check on their wards, expressed outrage upon learning that the English Language paper had been unexpectedly delayed. Many described the situation as “unacceptable” and called on WAEC to issue a public apology for what they termed a “gross act of negligence.”
“This is unfair to these children. If there were going to be issues, the exam should have been rescheduled. Subjecting them to unnecessary hardship, knowing they have another paper tomorrow, is unacceptable,” said Fatima Ibrahim, a visibly upset parent at one of the centers.
Residents noted that such an incident was unprecedented in the state’s examination history. They urged the Federal Government to intervene by investigating the circumstances surrounding the delay and sanctioning those found responsible to prevent a recurrence.
“This has never happened in Taraba before,” another parent lamented. “We are calling on the relevant authorities to act swiftly and ensure this kind of negligence does not happen again.”
As of press time, efforts to reach WAEC officials for comment proved abortive.
