Head of the School Examination Administration Department at West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), Mrs Lillian Frimpong, says invigilators have a responsibility to ensure that examination rules and regulations are strictly enforced throughout the examination period.
Invigilators who allow candidates to engage in examination malpractice risk facing sanctions, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has warned.
Speaking with Isaac Addae on Morning Starr on Starr FM, Mrs Frimpong said WAEC takes action whenever investigations establish that an invigilator has allowed examination malpractice to occur.
She explained that the nature of the sanctions depends, among other things, on whether the invigilator is a WAEC staff member or an official from another institution.
“We take actions against the invigilators. Immediately you will have to change, ask the supervisor to change the invigilator. Then you take the name of the invigilator.”
Mrs Frimpong said where a WAEC staff member is found to have allowed malpractice during an examination, the consequences could be severe, including dismissal.
“If I go in and I see a staff who is on inspection doing this, you are in the room and you are allowing this, then immediately we can take action. It can even lead to dismissal,” she said.
However, she explained that WAEC does not have direct control over invigilators who are officials of other institutions, particularly during school examinations.
“If it is an official, let’s say from GES, we don’t have control. So we report to the Director General,” she said.
Mrs Frimpong further stressed that invigilators are not the only stakeholders expected to uphold examination regulations, saying candidates are also fully aware of the rules before they enter the examination hall.
She said candidates are informed of the regulations during registration and are required to acknowledge that they understand and will abide by them.
Her comments come amid concerns over various forms of examination malpractice, including candidates leaving their assigned desks to copy from others or communicate with fellow candidates during examinations.
Mrs Frimpong said such conduct amounts to a breach of the examination regulations and must be dealt with accordingly.
She urged all stakeholders involved in examinations to help protect the integrity of the process, stressing that WAEC remains concerned about the growing incidence of examination malpractice.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Pamela Quayson
