The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE “corrective measures” carried out by the Ministry of Education following the reported refusal by an adjudicator to make a 40-mile journey to assess Bahamas Junior Certificate craft examination submissions by two entrants in Abaco, parent Huel Moss insisted that he is “still disappointed” over the ordeal.

Last week, it was reported that Mr Moss’ 24-year-old autistic daughter, Latonya, who sat the exam as a private candidate and a 9th grade student at the S C Bottle High School, where Mr Moss serves as principal were never seen or assessed by the adjudicator because she allegedly “ran out of time.”

“No apology was given by anybody,” the long time educator said yesterday.

However, education director Lionel Sands referred to the matter as a one time occurrence and said that was once his department was made aware of the situation all “necessary corrective measures were taken.”

Mr Sands said that the adjudicator in this matter “should have” made adjustments to make sure that all submitted assignments were assessed before returning to Nassau.

“This is certainly not the norm, the truth is when a child is entered to sit an examination there should be nothing that prevents that child from sitting the examination. When the schedule is done, it is done with the view that all submitted assignments are assessed. In this situation the adjudicator indicated that it was impossible to view every assignment due to time,” said Mr Sands.

“Certainly, in the future we will move to dispatch two officials in situations where it is clear that one would not be sufficient. It is something we have done before and something we will employ a lot more in the future.”

On Tuesday, a Ministry of Education examiner was dispatched to Abaco to assess the two assignments.

Mr Moss indicated that Latonya took the day off from her school to be available for any possible interview with the examiner. However, the examiner exercised her right not to conduct an interview with either candidate.

He is still upset over the incident.

“I am still disappointed in how the assessment was conducted. The art instructor and the school were still questioned and were made to feel that they were at fault for not executing the proper procedure in getting information to the examiner that a special education candidate was sitting the craft exam. The Examination and Assessment Division knew from September, 2014 of Latonya’s intention of registering for the exam in December, 2014,” Mr Moss said.

However, he added, both candidates were relieved that the ordeal has now ended and await the results of the exam.

“Latonya is overjoyed and relieved that it is all over. In fact, her focus now is how much money she may collect from the many family members, teachers and friends who made promises to her based on her results,” said Mr Moss.

Last week, Mr Moss told The Tribune that on May 28, adjudicators arrived in Abaco from Nassau to inspect BJC craft submissions from students on the island. He said to his “horror,” the adjudicators never made it north to Cooper’s Town, remaining in Marsh Harbour the entire time.

Mr Moss claimed that he was instructed by the adjudicator to load the two exam pieces into a vehicle and transport them to Marsh Harbour for grading. He said he refused to do so because he feared the journey would compromise the integrity of the fragile pieces.

The Treasure Cay resident said he was then instructed to pack the pieces and ship them to Nassau for grading as the observers were not going to make the journey while in Abaco.