Notre Dame Girls’ SHS student dies after writing last WASSCE paper

An 18-year-old final year student of Notre Dame Girls' Senior High School at Fiapre near Sunyani has died after collapsing shortly after writing her final paper in the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The deceased, identified as Jacinta Kubi Appiah, reportedly became unconscious after completing her last examination paper on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. She was rushed to the SDA Hospital in Sunyani, where she was pronounced dead.

According to family sources, Jacinta had earlier called her mother to share the news that she had successfully completed her secondary school education and would be returning home the following day. However, shortly after the conversation, she reportedly collapsed.

The circumstances surrounding her death have generated public concern, with differing accounts emerging from some students and the Ghana Education Service (GES) regarding the events leading to the incident.

Some colleagues of the deceased told this reporter that Jacinta had repeatedly complained of severe chest pains, which they believed were heart-related. They alleged that despite her recurring health concerns, requests for exeat to seek further medical attention outside the school had not always been granted.

However, the Bono Regional Director of Education, Gabriel Kwabena Antwi, disputed claims that the student had been denied permission to seek medical care.

Confirming the incident, Mr Antwi said the school's headmistress informed him that Jacinta had been granted exeat to visit the hospital.

“I’m not aware that the student was denied exeat. I queried the headmistress to know whether such an incident happened and she said she (the student) was given exeat to go to the hospital,” he said.

According to the Regional Director, Jacinta visited the SDA Hospital a day before her final examination paper after complaining of ill health. He said medical personnel recommended that she remain under observation, but she insisted on returning to school to write the examination.

“The day before writing the last paper, she was complaining that she was not feeling well so the school took her to the SDA Hospital and my understanding is that the doctor had tried to detain her but she insisted to write the last paper so she came back to the school, she wrote the paper and then after writing the paper she fell unconscious and was rushed back to the hospital, where she passed away.”

The incident has left students in shock and renewed concerns among parents about the management of students with medical conditions in senior high schools. Calls have also been made for a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding Jacinta's death and to determine whether existing health and welfare protocols were adequately followed.

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