Parents and their children from five districts in the Bono Region, specifically Dormaa East, West, Central, Jaman North, and South, were recently invited by officials from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) at the Glorious Bible Church in Dormaa Ahenkro.
The purpose of this meeting was to address suspicions of examination malpractices among the recently graduated Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates.
The parents expressed their dissatisfaction with the scrutiny process, emphasizing the necessity for more stringent oversight and increased transparency.
According to the parents who spoke to the news media, their children were not apprehended by any examiner for malpractices during the examination, and thus, they see no necessity for them to submit any report.
They further expressed the opinion that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is unable to accommodate the large number of students who passed through the free Senior High School initiative.
Consequently, they believe this has led to a decision to frustrate the students and subsequently cancel their examination papers to reduce the number of students and lower costs.
Mr. Michael Ignatius Anaise, the former Public Relations Officer for the Dormaa Central Municipal Education Directorate, expressed his support for the bold decisions made by WAEC.
He noted that the increasing rate of examination malpractice in the country is alarming and requires critical attention.
He criticized the previous practice of WAEC canceling the papers of students suspected of involvement in examination malpractice, asserting that it was not the most effective approach.
Therefore, he emphasized the importance of requiring students and their parents to provide testimony before WAEC officials regarding how they arrived at identical answers as their peers. This process would allow WAEC to make informed decisions about whether to cancel their papers or not.
He further stated that this measure would serve as a deterrent for other candidates, their parents, and teachers, encouraging them to adhere to proper practices in preparation for their final examinations.
He advocated for diligent study and preparation, rather than resorting to examination malpractice, which poses significant risks to the country’s development.
