The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it will name and shame candidates who get involved in examination malpractices.
According to WAEC, it would publish the names as well as the schools of the candidates who cheated during the 2014 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the national dailies to deter others from doing so.
The Public Affairs Manager of WAEC, Mrs Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, who made this known to the Junior Graphic, said the decision to publicise the names of the schools was aimed at nibbing the practice of examination malpractice in the bud.
“We have not stopped publishing their identities, we would continue with it...of course to deal with the practice of examination malpractice,” she said.
The WAEC frowns on malpractices in its examinations and for the May/June 2014 WASSCE for instance, the council has cancelled the entire results of 321 candidates who were involved in various forms of malpractice. In addition, the council also cancelled the subject results of 1,994 candidates.
“Additionally, the entire results of 36 schools have been withheld while investigations into alleged examination irregularities are conducted. The withheld results would be released as soon as the council concludes its investigations,” a statement issued by WAEC said.
During the May/June WASSCE last year, 774 candidates had their entire results cancelled while 4,879 candidates also suffered the same fate.
To ensure the credibility of its examinations, WAEC has revised the rule on carrying mobile phones into the examination halls which previously attracted the cancellation of subject results to the cancellation of the entire results of the candidates. It has also swapped supervisors for the May/June WASSCE; banned mobile phones at examination centres during the performance of examination duties.
The council has also decided to start all papers for the WASSCE at 8:30 a.m. for the morning sessions and 1 p.m. for the afternoon sessions to ensure that candidates in Ghana who write the exam will do so at the same time as all others in all its member countries.
