By Muyiwa Olaoye
In a shocking turn of events, thousands of students across the country were left scrambling to find alternative calculators on Thursday, 16th May 2024, as the customized calculators promised by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) failed to arrive in schools as at Thursday may 16 2024.
The affected students were scheduled to write their Chemistry practicals and Agricultural Science exams, and the absence of the calculators caused widespread panic and disruption.
Many students who spoke to our correspondent expressed frustration and disappointment at the situation, with some revealing that they had to borrow calculators from friends or classmates in order to sit for the exam.
Others were seen desperately searching for someone to lend them a calculator, even as they tried to cram in last-minute revision for the exam.
The situation was further exacerbated by the economic situation in the country, with many low-income parents struggling to afford a new calculator for their children after already paying for the WAEC calculator.
The notice sent by WAEC to schools, informing them of the delay in delivery, offered little comfort to the affected students, as many were left without access to the necessary tools to sit for the exam.
The Head of Exam Administration at WAEC, in a statement, apologized for the inconvenience caused by the late delivery of the calculators, and assured that arrangements were being made to send the customized calculators to all schools as soon as possible. However, this may be too little, too late for the students who were affected by the debacle.
As the mathematics and further mathematics exams approach, students and parents are left hoping that the situation will be resolved before it’s too late. The incident has raised questions about the preparedness and efficiency of WAEC in conducting the exams, and the council will need to work hard to regain the trust of stakeholders.
