As Hope Fades For Rescuing Of More Passengers
PHOTO: One of the first passengers rescued by Liberia’s Coast Guard and its partners
In the wake of the sinking of a boat carrying some WAEC exams proctors to the southeast, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Liberia has announced the postponement of the exams for 3rd and 9th graders across the country.
At least 15 passengers are missing and eleven have been rescued from a sinking boat in Liberian coastal waters, the Liberia Maritime Authority disclosed on Sunday, July 18, 2021.
More images of the rescue operations at sea over the weekend
Maritime Commissioner, Lenn Eugene Nagbe told a news conference Sunday morning that the Liberia National Coast Guard along with ArcelorMittal Liberia tugboats have rescued eleven persons and up to 17 others are still in missing action, after a local boat heading to Maryland County sank between Marshall City and little Buchanan.
WAEC authorities have not said exactly how many of its staff were on broad the sunken boat, which was carrying an unspecified quantity of exams materials.
Commissioner Nagbe said on July 17, 2021 at 15:51hrs, the Maritime Authorty, received an alert from the Liberia Coast Guard through its Monrovia Regional Maritime Rescue coordinator center, informing it about a distress situation on board Niko Ivanka. This is a locally registered vessel trading between the port of Monrovia and Harper owned and operated by HYLAEA Inc.
Up to Monday morning, rescue operations were going on. Interviews by Maritime Commissioner Eugene Nagbe and Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) Chief of Staff, Major General Prince Charles Johnson on the local OK Fm breakfast show indicated that hope was fast fading away to find survivals from the capsized boat.
A press release from WAEC Monrovia office says in consultation with the Ministry of Education, has set July 19 – 23, 2021, as the new date for the administration of the 3rd, 6th, and 9th-grade exams.
The decision to extend the examination timetable by a week is due to challenges that arose at the closing stages of preparations, leading to the administration of the exams.
They noted that the 3rd-grade exams will begin Monday, July 19, while the 6th-graders will sit for their exams on July 20 and 21, with the 9th-grade exams beginning July 22 and ending July 23.
The WAEC Liberia office regrets the inconvenience that the decision may cause its many stakeholders and the public. Meanwhile, WAEC Liberia is calling on school administrators to begin printing the identification slips for their 6th-graders beginning Monday, July 12, while modalities are being worked out to resuscitate the 9th and 3rd-grades portals to enable them to print their candidates’ identification slips in preparation of the exams.
They further encouraged principals, school administrators and secretariats, as well as stakeholders in the educational sector to adhere strictly to the new administration dates as there will be no further extension made, the WAEC press release says. Report by Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com