Leaked 2019 WASSCE papers claims false – WAEC

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has assured the public that the examination papers in the ongoing 2019 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) have not been leaked.

However, WAEC said it has instituted investigations into the reports while beefing up security at examination centres.

A deputy director in charge of public affairs of WAEC, Mrs. Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, said some supervisors and invigilators have been withdrawn pending further sanctions, adding a formal complaint has been made to the Cyber Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police on the operations of some “rogue websites”, purportedly aiding in examination malpractices.

She said some of the candidates suspected to have been involved in examination malpractice are being investigated. As a further step, the Council says it would scrutinise all scripts of schools where cheating has been reported.

“It must be noted that a great number of candidates have conducted themselves very well and due diligence would be followed to ensure fairness to all,” the statement added.

“The Council urges all stakeholders including members of the public to collaborate with it to safeguard the integrity of the examinations and certificates awarded.”

The Council wishes to state as follows:

That there has been no leakage of examination papers for the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2019. That the Council in its monitoring of the examination has received information regarding examination malpractice in examination halls and planned cheating patterns at some of the centres as a result of poor supervision and invigilation. That in some cases, pre-arranged cheating has been reported by insiders with school authorities creating hideouts where teachers knowledgeable in the subject area wait for the question paper packets to be opened. Snapshots of these questions are taken, solved and answers sent to candidates in the examination hall. Smuggling of mobile phones to the examination hall by candidates awaiting solutions as stated in point 3 above. Resurgence of the operation of rogue websites. These website operators, with the connivance of some invigilators and supervisors, receive snapshots of the question papers from the centres after the question paper packets are opened. They then solve the questions and post the answers on their websites and the WhatsApp groups of candidates who have paid for their services. To address these challenges, the Council has put in place the following measures:

(1) Increased the inspection and monitoring of the examination at the various centres;

(2) Withdrawn and/or annulled the appointment of some supervisors and invigilators pending further sanctions;

(3) Made a formal complaint to the Cyber Crime Unit of the CID on the operations of the rogue websites;

(4) A number of candidates suspected to have been involved in examination malpractice are being investigated.

As a further step, the Council would scrutinise all scripts of schools where cheating has been reported.

It must be noted that a great number of candidates have conducted themselves very well and due diligence would be followed to ensure fairness to all.

The Council urges all stakeholders including members of the public to collaborate with it to safeguard the integrity of the examinations and certificates awarded,” it added.