APPROXIMATELY 70 final year students of the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport yesterday morning walked out of their final examination in sports journalism, saying that the paper was unrelated to the course they studied.

Credits from the examination would go towards the students’ first degree in physical education.

Yesterday, the college’s principal Yvonne Kong told the Observer that the students had not contravened any rule and would not be penalised in any way for their actions.

“They have a right that they have exercised and we will deal with the issue in the students’ favour without compromising the (college’s) standards,” said Kong.

Kong said she had seen the paper in question prior to the exam and had vetted it for presentation and grammar, but its relevance to the course was not considered.

Kong said she was uncertain of the exact number of students who actually walked out of the exam but that she was sure that some completed the paper.

“Others, rather than sit and struggle, they opted to walk out,” said Kong.

The GC Foster students had also complained about the performance of the lecturer in sports journalism, but the principal said there were no formal complaints to her office. She said the lecturer, who was employed on a part-time basis, would be consulted on the matter.

In the meantime, a representative of the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) told the Observer that there had been no official report to the council and, as such, the issue remained an internal matter at the college.

The Bachelor of Physical Education degree from the G C Foster College is approved by the UCJ.