"Education Is Not About Threatening Our Children" Rep. Moima Mensah Slams Alleged Humiliation of Female WASSCE Candidates

Capitol Hill, Liberia:Bong County District #6 Representative Moima Briggs Mensah has strongly condemned the alleged mistreatment of female students during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in River Cess County, calling for a full-scale investigation into the matter and demanding accountability from examination authorities.

The controversy stems from reports emerging from the Cestos High School testing center in River Cess County, where two female candidates allegedly urinated in public after examination officials reportedly denied their repeated requests to use the restroom while writing their exams.

Another female student was also reportedly denied permission to leave the examination hall after experiencing her menstrual cycle.

The incident, which has sparked outrage on social media and among education stakeholders, is said to have occurred in the presence of fellow students and security officers, raising concerns about the dignity, welfare, and rights of students during national examinations.

Reacting to the reports, Representative Mensah described the situation as unacceptable and warned that such treatment could have lasting consequences on girls' education across the country.

“We have tried our best to educate our girl children and their numbers have increased then the males now. Nature cannot be controlled. If the girls said they wanted to urinate, allow them to do so,” the lawmaker said.

She expressed disappointment over reports that some of the affected students were allegedly prevented from changing their pads after they observed their menstrual cycle, questioning the role of gender-sensitive personnel within educational institutions.

“The more shocking part is that some female students saw their messes and wanted to go change in the bathroom but the proctors refused. Why do we have gender people in the various schools?” she asked.

Mensah further criticized what she described as an education system driven by fear rather than care, arguing that students should never be forced to choose between their health needs and their academic future.

“The idea of telling the students that if they leave to go to the bathroom they won't do the test and that means they have forfeited the points is bad. Education is not about threatening our children,” she stated.

As the matter continues to generate national attention, the Bong County lawmaker disclosed that she has already engaged members of the Legislature's Education Committee and confirmed that both WAEC Liberia and the Ministry of Education are expected to appear before lawmakers on Monday to address the allegations.

 “When I saw this, I felt bad. As a gender chair, I strongly condemn this. I communicated it with my colleagues on the Education Committee and WAEC will be appearing here Monday along with the Ministry of Education,” she added.