Ghana School of Law Students Get Relief on Outstanding Papers

• The President-elect of the SRC at the Ghana School of Law has petitioned the IEC for a special dispensation to allow students with outstanding papers to rewrite them instead of repeating the year.
• The request is being made on behalf of Part I and II students who are struggling under the current PLC and Post Call Law Course programmes.
• Nlason emphasized that the request does not seek to lower academic standards, but rather to ensure continuity and fairness for the current cohort.

He stressed that affected students would remain subject to the same examination procedures and requirements as their peers.

The President-elect of the Students' Representative Council (SRC) at the Ghana School of Law, Mr Isaac Nlason, has petitioned the Independent Examinations Committee (IEC) for a special dispensation to allow students with outstanding papers to rewrite them instead of repeating the year. The request is being made on behalf of Part I and II students who are struggling under the current Professional Law Course (PLC) and Post Call Law Course programmes. According to Nlason, the introduction of a new legal education regime has created exceptional circumstances that warrant this compassionate measure.

The petition, dated August 17, 2026, was addressed to the Chairperson of the IEC, Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei. In it, Nlason acknowledged that the law requires candidates who fail a subject to be referred and rewrite it at a supplementary examination. However, he noted that the new regime provides for the discontinuation of the existing PLC programme, which has left students in limbo.

Nlason emphasized that the request is not intended to lower academic standards, but rather to ensure continuity and fairness for the current cohort. He stressed that affected students would remain subject to the same examination procedures and requirements as their peers.

The Ghana School of Law's new legal education regime has introduced significant changes to the way law students are educated and examined. The Professional Law Course (PLC) programme, which was previously in place, has been discontinued. In its place, a new Post Call Law Course programme has been introduced. However, this change has created challenges for current students who were already enrolled in the PLC programme.

Under the new regime, candidates who fail half or more of their subjects in an academic year are deemed to have failed that year's examination entirely. This means that students who fail two or more subjects must repeat the entire year, rather than being allowed to rewrite outstanding papers. Nlason's petition seeks to address this issue and provide a compassionate solution for affected students.

The Independent Examinations Committee (IEC) is responsible for overseeing the examination process at the Ghana School of Law. The IEC has the authority to grant special dispensations in exceptional circumstances, which is what Nlason is requesting.

The outcome of this petition will have significant implications for current law students at the Ghana School of Law. If granted, the dispensation would allow affected students to rewrite outstanding papers and continue their legal education without interruption. This would be a welcome relief for students who are struggling under the new regime.

However, if the petition is denied, it could lead to further challenges for these students. They may be forced to repeat the entire year, which could set back their academic progress and delay their entry into the profession. The Ghana School of Law's SRC President-elect has emphasized that this request does not seek to lower academic standards, but rather to ensure continuity and fairness for the current cohort.

Lawyers advising students affected by the new legal education regime should note that this petition is a separate issue from the ongoing reform efforts in Ghana's legal education system. The dispensation being sought would provide temporary relief for current students, while the broader reforms aim to improve the overall quality of legal education in Ghana.

Lawyers advising students affected by the Ghana School of Law's new legal education regime should note that the request for a special dispensation to rewrite outstanding papers does not lower academic standards, and students will remain subject to the same examination procedures and requirements as their peers.

Source: Original reporting via MyJoyOnline.com