WASSCE: Don’t cheat – Lecturer

Head of the Linguistics Department of the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum, popularly known as Opanyin Agyekum, has urged all candidates sitting for the 2018 West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) not to engage in examination malpractices that could lead to the cancellation of their results.

He also urged parents and teachers who may develop the taste of leading their wards to cheat in the exams to also desist from that action.

Over 380,000 students are writing the exams this year which starts today Tuesday, 3 April.

Prof Agyekum said while speaking on Peace FM’s Kokorokoo programme on that: “Don’t engage in examination malpractices because that will lead to cancellation of the papers.”

He also urged parents and teachers to “allow your wards and students to do an independent work so they can be proud if they gain admission into the university or other tertiary institutions.”

Meanwhile, the head of the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC), Rev. Sam Nii Nmai Ollennu has emphasised there shall be no discrimination in this year’s WASSCE and that every student, irrespective of being pregnant or indebted to their schools, shall be allowed to take part in the exams.

Rev. Ollennu gave the assurance when he spoke to host of the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS), Moro Awudu on Class91.3FM on Monday, 3 April as the first paper begins.

Rev. Ollennu said: “Exams council does not prohibit anyone, no matter your status, whether pregnant, sick or whatever from writing the exams, so, everybody is expected to be allowed and I know that the GES also has stipulated that no person pregnant or not, should be disallowed from writing the examinations and I can only hope and trust that the directive by the GES will be followed, so, I trust that they will allow them.

“But really again, we don’t determine that; it’s the Ghana Education Service that controls that aspect of examinations.”

Regarding students who had not paid their fees, Rev. Ollennu said they will be allowed to take part in the exams.

"No, they will not be sacked so far as I’m concerned because if you don’t pay, after the exam, the GES will submit the results of those who are owing and then we will withhold their results for a while for them to pay, so, for now nobody is supposed to be prevented from writing the examinations because of their indebtedness regarding examination fees or school fees.”