Teachers, students cautioned against malpractices

Mr Edwin Larweh Ocansey, Deputy Director in charge of Secondary Education Division of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has cautioned teachers and students against malpractices in this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

He said the issue of examination malpractices had become a major concern to the GES, and adequate measures had been initiated to ensure that no such thing happens in this year’s WASSCE and subsequent ones.

Mr Ocansey issued the warning at the speech and prize giving day celebration of the Presbyterian Senior High and Technical School at Aburi at the weekend.

He stressed that any teacher or student found engaging in examination malpractices would be dealt with ruthlessly.

Mr Ocansey said no invigilator or supervisor would be allowed to enter the examination center with a mobile phone or any communication gadget during this year’s WASSCE

He said the GES was putting in place measures to avoid examination malpractices to ensure that certificate issued to students would be recognized by higher institutions both in Ghana and elsewhere. Mr Ocansey asked stakeholders in the educational sector to help stop examination malpractices, and appealed to teachers to ensure that students prepare adequately for examinations. He appealed to students to learn hard to enable them to pass their examinations.

The Reverend Samuel Adjei Munyuhintum, headmaster of the school, said the current student population was 2,323 with 112 teaching staff and 58 non-teaching staff.

He said the school in 2012, presented 353 students for the WASSCE examination and obtained 100 per cent pass with more than 300 students gaining admission into various tertiary institutions in the country.

He said the school lacked staff accommodation and that out 112 teachers; only five of them reside on campus.

Rev. Munyuhintum appealed to government, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, philanthropists and non-governmental organizations to come to the aid of the school.

He said development projects being executed at the school included a school clinic, a technical workshop and dining hall.

He commended the Parent- Teacher Association (PTA) for its contributions towards the development of the school.

Osabarima Professor Opare Addo, Chief of Awherase, urged the school authorities to ensure quality teaching to improve the academic performance of students

Nana Otoobour Gyan Kwasi, Chief of Aburi, commended the headmaster and the staff for working hard to raise the academic performance of the school.

The PTA later donated an electrical plant valued at GHC 70,000 to the school.