The Deputy Ranking Member on Education in Parliament, Dr. Clement Apaak, has said it is about time the Legislature intervenes and compel the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to work in protecting certificates issued to students.
Speaking to Starr FM, the lawmaker pointed out that the people’s representatives (Parliament) cannot sit aloof and see West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) jeopardies and lack international recognition.
“We know that the issue of exam leakage, malpractices and irregularities are not new. But at the same time we also recognize that over the years, the rampancy, magnitude and nature of the spread are unprecedented. So to be fair for us to get the proper sense of the evolution of the malpractices and indeed irregularities. We felt it was proper that we look at a decade.
“So that we can compare and contrast and then identify the challenges over time. And to see entities that have not been up doing well in terms of ensuring the integrity and acceptability of exams and associated certificates. That is why we are proposing 2011 to 2021,” he stated.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak and his colleague MP for Akatsi North, Mr. Peter Nortsu-Kotoe have tabled a motion to probe WAEC exams from 2011 to 2021.
“Private Members’ Motion for bi-partisan committee is set to investigate allegations of irregularities, leakages of examination papers and related malpractices. In examination conducted by WACE for candidates of WASSCE from 2011 to 2021 and submit a report to the House for consideration,” the motion seen by Starrfm.com.gh to Parliament reads.
Commenting on the motion, Dr. Apaak further stated that the move will bring together all stakeholders in the education sector for a holistic plan to be fashioned out to check the yearly ritual of exams leakages in the country.
Background
An Educational Think Tank, Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has published a monitoring report exposing the leakages in the just ended WASSCE conducted by WAEC this year.
However, the Public Relation Officer (PRO) for West Africa Examination Body, Agnes Teye-Cudjoe in responding to the report revealed that some of the schools captured by Eduwatch are not their system and do not exist.
“We observed that one, Insaaniyaa Senior High School that is number 12 on the list of the schools that was reported to have been monitored by Eduwatch does not currently exist. The school was closed down in January 2021.
No candidate was registered by Insaaniya Senior High School for the WASSCE 2021 neither was the school used as examination center. So we do not know where his monitors went to monitor Insaaniya Senior High School,” she reiterated.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5fm
