Published: June 12, 2026
MONROVIA — The chairperson of the House Committee on Gender Equity, Child Development and Social Services has demanded an investigation into officials of the West African Examinations Council after female students in River Cess County were allegedly barred from using toilets during national exams, forcing some to urinate in public and denying a menstruating candidate the chance to change her sanitary pad.
Rep. Moima Briggs-Mensah of Bong County District No. 6 condemned the reported treatment of candidates at the Cestos High School testing center as unacceptable and a violation of the dignity and rights of young girls, and called for possible disciplinary action against the council, known as WAEC.
The allegations center on the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination, or WASSCE. Two female candidates reportedly urinated in public after supervisors repeatedly denied their requests to use the restroom, telling them that leaving the hall would violate examination rules. In a separate reported incident, a student who began menstruating during the exam was allegedly refused permission to leave and change her sanitary pad.
The incidents, which reportedly occurred in the presence of other students and security officers, have sparked public outrage and renewed calls for gender-sensitive policies during national examinations.
Briggs-Mensah said the reported actions threaten efforts to increase girls’ participation and retention in Liberia’s education system.
“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,” she said.
She expressed disappointment that some affected students were prevented from changing their sanitary pads after noticing they had begun menstruating.
“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.
Briggs-Mensah criticized what she described as an education system built on fear rather than compassion.
“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 said.
The lawmaker said she had communicated the matter to the House Committee on Education and confirmed that WAEC Liberia and the Ministry of Education are expected to appear before lawmakers on Monday.
“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.
The allegations were first reported by Ableejay TV, which said the affected students had repeatedly sought permission to use the restroom before relieving themselves in the open on the school campus. WAEC staff at the center declined to comment, saying they were not authorized to speak to the media, according to the report.
Education advocates and members of the public have called for a full investigation and for examination procedures that protect the health, dignity and welfare of students without compromising the integrity of national assessments.
Neither WAEC Liberia nor the Ministry of Education had issued a public statement on the allegations as of press time.
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