By Grace Q. Bryant
There results of the administered West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams in Monrovia has been delayed nearly four months thus raising serious concerns among students, schools, and parents.
According to WAEC’s policy, results should be released within 45 days after the last exam paper and this would mean that the results of the May/June 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) were expected to be released around August 6, 7, or 8, 2024.
The delay has impacted the 22,229 students who are eagerly waiting for their results since the first week of August.
As a result of this delay, students are unable to enroll in universities and other academic programs, creating significant problems for their parents and guardians.
In a related development, the Stipendiary Magistrate of the Monrovia City Court, Ben Barco, has issued a Writ of “Subpoena Duces Tecum” against the head of WAEC in Liberia, Dale Garmondeh Gbotoe.
Apparently, this legal action stems from an investigation into the leakage of the 2024 mathematics exam, an incident that has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the WASSCE in Liberia.
The writ, issued at the request of the Office of the Ombudsman, mandates Mr. Gbotoe to appear before the court on Thursday, August 29, at 10a.m. to provide critical documents and information related to the case.
A “subpoena duces tecum” is a legal tool often used to compel individuals or organizations to present documents that are vital to a legal case.
The court order specifically requires Mr. Gbotoe to produce all documents related to the leaked exam, including the names of staff and other individuals identified as persons of interest.
Accordingly, he must disclose the security protocols that were in place to safeguard the exam during its preparation, storage, production, management, and administration.
Despite these developments, the WAEC Liberia office has been accused of withholding crucial information from the Ombudsman’s Office, prompting the latter to seek the court’s intervention.
The Ombudsman’s Office, in a communication dated July 11, and followed up on July 22, requested WAEC Liberia to provide specific information regarding the leaked exam.
After WAEC allegedly failed to comply with the July 23, 2024, deadline, and a subsequent conference on August 20, 2024, the Ombudsman sought legal recourse, resulting in the court’s issuance of the subpoena.
The Ombudsman’s Office also called for the court to impose a fine of US$200 on Mr. Gbotoe for non-compliance; with said amount to be paid to government’s revenue.