WAEC tightens security at BECE centres

West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has introduced stringent security measures to prevent leakage of examination question papers in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE).

Consequently, WAEC introduced security mail bags with tag numbers, a padlock and three keys that would be kept by three persons at different strategic locations.

The Controller of WAEC in Takoradi in the Western region, Mr. Patrick Sumailah Wayoe, told Today in an interview that the security measures were taken to curb occasional leakage of examination question papers which often had financial implications on WAEC.

He said the new security arrangements demand that the District Education Director, the WAEC depot keeper and the examination supervisor stationed at the examination centre would keep the keys, adding that the measure would prevent the possibility of the mail bags from being tempered with.

Mr. Wayoe disclosed that 44,094 candidates registered for this year’s the BECE in the Western region of which 23,602 are males and 20,492 females.

He said the examinations would take place at 127 centres across the region involving 1,312 schools.

He revealed that the Ghana Police Service released police personnel to maintain law and order at all the centres.

Mr. Wayoe stressed that the police personnel would also escort examination materials as well as being stationed at the WAEC depots to prevent examination question papers from being leaked.

He advised the candidates taking part in the examinations to observe the rules and regulations governing the examinations and entreated supervisors and invigilators to protect the sanctity of the exams.

He also warned candidates and invigilators not to send mobile phones and any foreign materials to the examination hall so as not to give undue advantage to some candidates.

The one-week nationwide examination which started yesterday, June 15, 2015 is expected to end Friday, June19, 2015.

In all nine subjects including, English Language, Religious and Moral Education, Integrated Science, Basic Design and Technology would be written.

The rest are Mathematics, Ghanaian language, Social Studies, French and Information and Communication Technology.