Scores of affected students who sat the GOVT 3020 Power and Politics in Latin America Examinations at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine, are left upset and frustrated after they were told by UWI officials they would have to resit the examinations.
They were informed over the weekend that the exam scripts were stolen from a vehicle, owned by an examiner.
It is alleged that the vehicle was broken into and several items stolen, including the examination scripts, which is written up by students. TT Guardian was informed the vehicle belonged to lecturer Kristy Smith.
Smith is a full-time employee at UWI and is in charge of the evening university, the evening administrator. She also teaches part-time.
Speaking with the TT Guardian yesterday, a student, who wished not to be identified, described the situation as unfair.
“We are caught in a hard place because preparing for exams at this level is already stressful, more than words can ever describe, and for us, who sat the exams felt that relief coming out of the examination room and now being told that we have to resit the exam is so unfair to us and so unbearable the thought,” the student said.
GOVT 3020 Power and Politics in Latin America is an undergraduate programme and falls under the Department of Political Science, which is headed by Dr Bishnu Ragoonath.
The student said they were threatening to send a signed petition to UWI’s registrar demanding a full explanation. The examination was held last May 11.
TT Guardian was informed a meeting was held by UWI officials subsequent to the incident to discuss and attempt to resolve the matter in accordance with the university’s regulations pertaining to lost examination scripts.
In accordance with the regulations, the affected students were given three options.
Firstly, either, completing a substitute examination, the form to be authorised by the chairman of the Campus Committee on Examinations. That substitute examination has been scheduled for June 5 at 1 pm.
The second option entails writing the next scheduled examination in the course, example, supplemental or repeat examination, abiding by the grade obtained in that exam.
In a memo, sent by Jessie-Ann George, senior assistant registrar (examinations), with regards to the second option, an examination will be offered in the summer examination session on a date to be identified.
In the meeting, TT Guardian, was also informed that it was agreed that in the event candidates were unable to accede to the first option or sit the summer examination, they would be allowed to write the examination in the 2015/2016 Semester II Examination Sitting.
The memo was sent to all affected students and they were asked to identify their preference by ticking a box accepting the respective option and then returning a signed copy to George by Friday.
When contacted yesterday afternoon, UWI’s pro vice-chancellor and campus principal, Professor Clement Sankat, who said he was just about to board an aircraft said he did not know anything on those issues and referred the TT Guardian to the campus’ registrar Richard Saunders.
However, an official at the registrar’s office said Saunders was out of the country and asked that he be emailed the relevant questions. Saunders responded acknowledging receipt of the questions and assured an official response from UWI would be sent shortly to the T&T Guardian. However, up to press time that response was not sent.
All other attempts to contact George, Ragoonath and Smith for comment proved futile.