Mix-up costs student high school space

By SAMUEL BARIASI
A MIX-UP in the data entry for grade eight students who sat the national examination last year caused a stir when a student who passed with good marks was denied a place in grade nine this year.
Instead, another student who did not sit the exam was offered a place in grade nine.
Parents Joshua and Marie Ove became worried when son Joel’s name was missing from the list of those offered places in grade nine.
He passed with very good marks from the Phillip Aravure Primary School.
The other student who did not sit for the grade eight exam at the school was on the list to advance to grade nine at the Gerehu Secondary School.
National Capital District education services assistant secretary Sam Lora said Joel’s name was inadvertently left out because officials wrongly entered his marks.
“His marks were wrongly entered onto another student’s name – the one who did not sit for the exam,” he said.
Lora said he had advised the Gerehu Secondary School principal of the error.
Mum Marie said they became worried when Joel did not receive any offer letter to continue to grade nine.
“School is about to start and we are still waiting for a proper response from NCD education services,” she said.
Phillip Aravure Primary School head teacher last year Robert Sailas said a number of students had faced the problem.
“I did write a letter to the NCD education services seeking an explanation but have not received any favourable response,” he said.
Sailas confirmed that two students who did not sit for the exams received their certificates.