Various scandal have been uncovered in the ongoing West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Ghana.
The development has compelled the West Africa Examination Council(WAEC) to issue a press statement against the practice.
Officials of West African Examination Council Ghana, last Friday issued a statement disclosing intelligent information pointing to the crime.
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The statement issued in Accra and signed by the Head of Public Affairs of the Council pointed out four forms of malpractices.
The statement cited restricted access to school compounds for monitoring.
It also mentioned smuggling of mobile phones into examination halls by candidates, impersonation and syndicate cheating in schools.
Restricted access to school compounds for monitoring:
The Council disclosed that they have intelligent information suggesting the involvement of some school authorities in the criminal acts.
The statement said reports reaching the Council indicate some school authorities have
adopted the practice of locking their school gates during the examination period.
This management believe is done to prevent external monitors from gaining access into the school compounds to monitor the examination.
The council observed such practice amounts to examination irregularities and cautioned the practice.
Smuggling of mobile phones into examination halls by candidates:
According to the sub-regional examination body, a number of candidates have been caught with mobile phones in examination halls.
WAEC announced that all candidates caught with phones in the examination halls will have their entire results cancelled.
The Council called on school authorities, supervisors, invigilators, parents and guardians to ensure that candidates abide by this rule.
Impersonation:
What seem to surprise WAEC officials in Ghana is a new form of examination scandal, impersonation.
According to officials, WASSCE impersonation cases, which hitherto was not recorded in the country (WASSCE) now on the increase.
The statement disclosed that the council have some arrests in connection with impersonation since the beginning of these year’s examination and are facing the law.
Syndicate cheating in schools:
The West Africa Examination Council said it also has intelligence that some school authorities collect monies from candidates for the purpose of syndicate cheating.
The statement said the Council is working closely with the Ghana Education Service, the National security operatives to bring down perpetrators
The Council urged all stakeholders to collaborate with it to safeguard the integrity of the examination.
