The 2021 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, which commenced smoothly across the country in August, is facing challenges of examination irregularities.
WAEC, at a press conference in Accra to update journalists on the conduct of the examination, said a number of examination irregularities have been recorded at some centres across the country.
Mr. George Ohene- Mantey, Head of Test Administration Division (TAD), WAEC, mentioned, “inside –examination- hall malpractice as a result of poor supervision and invigilation,” as major a malpractice being experienced in the WASSCE.
He said WAEC had also received reports suggesting the execution of pre-arranged plans to assist candidates to cheat by solving questions and distributing solutions to them in the examination hall.
Mr. George Ohene- Mantey said there had also been reports of smuggling of mobile phones into examination halls by candidates awaiting solutions from platforms they had made payments to.
He said there was also snapping of question papers at some centres and posting same on various WhatsApp platforms.
Mr. Ohene-Mantey said the activities of social media “cartels” were in full force with several versions of questions being circulated on social media platforms.
He said some of such online groups were: Ruth, Jerusalem, Eminent Link, Mr. Robert, SucessRoom, Mr. IUPAC, Brotherhood and WAEC Secret Helper.
Mr. Ohene-Mantey said the Council’s investigation team was tracking the websites and groups and said culprits would be dealt with.
He said those groups enticed candidates to part with money by posting several fake versions of questions, including past questions on social media.
The Head of TAD said some of the group’s post “actual questions on paid for, groups, after receipt and opening of question paper packets at the centre” with solved questions and posted on WhatsApp groups.
He said with the passing of the Cyber Security Act,2020 (Act 1036), the prosecution of operatives of the fraudulent groups would be facilitated.
“We want to urge parents, religious leaders and well-meaning people in society to join us in advising our wards to stay away from these WhatsApp/Telegram groups and focus on their books,” he stressed.
GNA
