Police presence frightens WASCE pupils

WASCE pupils, notable the Secondary High School in the east end of Freetown yesterday were overpowered by fright owing to real time police presence at respective examination halls at schools at the east end of Freetown.

It is alleged that the pupils were left without choice, but fell into dreaded terror and were left to believably meditate arrest rather than give their attentions to examination questions.

This, we are told, annoyed most pupils and as a result it was seen as a deliberate violation of their rights to free of education.

Some High School pupils that spoke to this press on the grounds of anonymity rendered heartfelt objection to the action of the police.

“The presence of the police created a negative impression in our minds. In fact, we are unsure of making positive performances,” a group of pupils said.

“We virtually don’t need the police because we are neither on training at their training school nor taking any police assessment exam.”

The pupils noted however that while at their respective schools there had been no routine police check at all.

“We have not been used to the police and so, seeing them around braced us as we commence our WASCE examination, it seemed a serious threat to our lives.”

The pupils also told our reporter that the police have got no reason for cordoning them on examination day, but rather look out for means to arrest them.

It is reiterated though that the police have the right to barricade pupils during examination day if they are involved in riotous conduct.

“I was left in a state of despondency and anguish and could virtually not write my exam well at all,” a pupil who asked for his name not to be mentioned fumed.

In his path, the police spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent Ibrahim Samura told this press that police presence was at the premises of Secondary High School owing to a request from management of the school.

He denounced assertion that huge police presence was felt at schools in the east end of Freetown.

“Look, it is incorrect that police officers were deployed at a number of schools during the WASCE assessment exam. In fact, the police had reached the premises of Secondary High School due to request from the school management,” ASP Samura said.

By Femi Coker

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