This follows a directive by the Human Rights Division of an Accra High court to the two bodies to find an amicable solution to a suit filed by CRI.

[contextly_sidebar id=”pBki41Va0iMjQ9VORW69adlQdpGeRJrb”]CRI was in court seeking to compel WAEC to schedule a suitable date for the candidates to write some two papers they missed during the normal period of the exams.

But WAEC had maintained that the students will be allowed to write the exams in January 2018.

Following the impasse, the Executive Secretary of CRI, Bright Appiah told Citi News there were now indications all parties were going to work in the best interest of the candidates.

“The parties involved have resorted to looking at how best the interests of children will be protected and all that so certain procedures were established in terms of how we want to deal with the issue so, for  me, it looks positive in terms of the opportunity that they are taking for our children.”

“Once things are in the best interest of children, all institutions, including WAEC and GES [Ghana Education Service], must also look at it so basically, we have come to some agreement in terms of the way that we want to move forward with the case,” Mr. Appiah said.

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By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NGO optimistic for ‘stranded’ Bunkpurugu BECE candidates appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

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.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Jo2k48Oorn5DzzRg02RtCcpEHo5HHvLY”]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.

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

The post Allow ‘stranded’ Bunkpurugu BECE candidates to rewrite now – Activist appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Assemblyman for Kambatiak, Duut James Yoogrin, this is due to the change in exams centre.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ykVyhxMGAYFdquiEKYLEadlQbJf9MBvq”]He said the new centre was too far from the communities that the candidates hail from.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Yoogarin said he is in talks with the District Coordinating Director of Bunkrugu t to resolve the matter.

“Their previous examination centre is closer to them than where they have now been assigned. They even said they were prepared to wait even for an hour for their previous station to be agreed upon. So we went back to the director and told him that he should register all the students at where they usually write their exams because it was better they wrote the exams at their previous centre than the new place.”

He said they had informed the necessary authorities in the district on the issue.

“I had a call from the coordinating director, and he asked me to talk to my kids which I did,” he added.

Over 460,000 candidates to write BECE

A total of 468,053 candidates are currently taking part in the BECE at various examination centres across the country.

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By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Over 200 BECE candidates stranded in Bunkpurugu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.