GES unhappy with increasing examinations malpractices

Accra, Dec. 6, GNA - Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), on Thursday expressed concern about the spate of examination malpractices by candidates who sit for examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). He said the situation was even sad in instances where supervisors and invigilators connived with candidates, pointing out that in the 2006 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), 93 school authorities and teachers were reported for disciplinary action while 26 schools were de-recognised.

WAEC recorded 9,874 cases of malpractice in the May/June 2006 WASSCE alone as against 1,624 last year.

Mr Bannerman-Mensah made the remarks at the 2006 National Excellence Awards organised by WAEC to honour two students of the Wesley Girls High School who excelled in the 2006 WASSCE. The award winners, Nana Ama Wadee and Ms Daisy Couri, are the first to receive the awards in the WASSCE category since the country changed from the Senior Secondary school Certificate Examination (SSSCE) to join Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Gambia for WASSCE.

The GES Director-General said though the de-recognised schools were given external supervision, a few recalcitrant ones were involved in the practice again during the May/June 2007 WASSCE, adding that some even threatened examination officials.

He therefore called on all stakeholders to immediately take steps to reverse the trend.

Mr Bannerman-Mensah also expressed regret about poor academic performance of candidates, especially in English Language and Mathematics, and advised teachers to work hard while students read more to improve their standards.

Mrs Patience Ayesu, Head of WAEC National Office, commended the award winners for excelling with eight grade "A1s" out of the 122,621 who took the examinations.

She stated that WAEC in the core subject's category recorded 68 per cent passes in Social studies, 33 per cent credit pass in English Language, 32.06 per cent in Mathematics and 25.34 in Integrated Science. Seven per cent failed Social Studies, 19 per cent in English, 31 per cent in Integrated Science and 32 per cent in Mathematics. Mrs Ayesu said, to improve student performance, there was the need for stakeholders to provide more reading materials and buy Chief Examiners' report to study student flops. She also called on teacher associations to support WAEC to curb examinations malpractices. Nana Ama, the overall best candidate, received 300 dollars and a certificate. She was also presented with 250 dollars as the best science student. Ms Couri, the second best received 250 dollars and a certificate in addition to a 250-dollar package as best business student. Wesley Girls School received four plaques for producing the candidates.