Another group of students showed up to sit for their O-level orals and were left waiting for over an hour on Thursday, as examiners again failed to turn up, resulting in longer-than-usual waiting time for the candidates.
Students who contacted this newspaper following a report that examiners did not show up for the German O-level on Wednesday complained that a similar incident had taken place the following day during the Spanish orals.
Both exams were held at the St Theresa College in Birkirkara.
“We were a group of six candidates assigned to one specific classroom. When we walked into the class, an invigilator told us the examiner would not be showing up and we were instead assigned to another class,” one student, who did not wish to be named, told this newspaper yesterday.
However, since their names were not originally on the list for the other classroom, they were informed they would have to wait for all the other students to finish their exams first.
Having to wait for over an hour, in a corridor in the sun, not knowing what is going on
According to the student, who was supposed to sit for the exam at 4pm, the group was only allowed in after waiting for over an hour, with some waiting even longer.
“Everyone is tense before an exam; it’s only natural. Having to wait for over an hour, in a corridor in the sun and not knowing what is going on, does not help.
“I’m sure that, had I not been forced to wait like that, I would have been much more focused,” the student said.
Contacted for a reaction, Matsec support unit director Dario Pirotta reiterated that the board had not received any such complaints.
“Subsequent to verification with the Examinations Department, kindly note that on Thursday no SEC Spanish examiners were absent,” he said.
Mr Pirotta confirmed that on Wednesday one examiner fell ill and the candidates assigned to this examiner were assessed by the other examiners. “Since candidates are scheduled per hour, some waiting time is expected. That being said, according to officials present at the venue, there were no significant delays.”
He said that the director of the Examinations Department, Raymond Camilleri, was present at the centre on Thursday and said that “the pace was flowing”, as confirmed by the head of centre.
The Ministry acknowledged that there were some delays during the week relating to oral examinations and it will work with Matsec in taking steps to make sure such delays are minimised in future.