WAEC worried about examination malpractices

The Eastern Regional Head of Test
Administration of the West Africa Examination
Council (WAEC), Mr Felix Akuffo Badoo has
expressed worry about the high rate of examination
malpractices by students in the country, blaming it
on poor teaching and learning in the schools.
Speaking at a lecture on the theme “Examinations
in Ghana”, he said, out of 240,662 students who sat
for the May/June 2014 West Africa Senior High
School Certificate Examination(WASSCE), 8,051 of
them were involved in examination malpractice,
which he said was alarming.
He added that lack of seriousness on the part of
students and poor invigilation by teachers are the
main causes of malpractices in examination centers
in the country.
Mr Badoo said examination malpractices in the
country has diverse effects on students, parents
and the country both economically and financially
and therefore urged students to desist from
examination malpractices.
He said the WAEC will embark on a sensitization
program in schools and examination centers prior to
the conduct of examinations to avoid malpractices
come next year.
Mr Badoo indicated that the council has plans of
synchronizing scheduled time for the conduct of
examinations for all member countries to minimize
examination leakages.
He called for collective and collaborative efforts to
help minimize the menace and urged teachers to
enforce the rules and regulations of the
examination on students to enable them to be
conversant with it.
The Lay Chairman for the Koforidua Diocese of the
Methodist Church, Madam Florence Gyebi – Twum,
said as part of the church’s social responsibilities,
lectures are organized every year by the Lay
Movement Council of the Church for final year
students to enlighten them on what to do during
examination period.
She added that the lecture was organized to
elaborate on issues that were vital to the students,
the church, the community and the nation as a
whole.
Madam Gyebi – Twum explained that the lecture
was geared towards helping the students to build
their morals and discipline during and before the
examinations.
Participants were selected from both the Senior
and Junior High schools in the Eastern Region.
Source: GNA