The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has identified a new and troubling trend in examination malpractice involving the smuggling of religious stickers into exam halls and posting them in answer sheets.
Mrs. Wendy E. Addy-Lamptey, Head of the National Office at WAEC, highlighted this issue during the WAEC Distinction Award Ceremony for the 2023 WASSCE for School Candidates.
She noted that the reasons behind candidates pasting these religious stickers in their answer booklets remain unclear. “All these issues are considered examination malpractice and may attract appropriate sanctions,” she warned.
This malpractice was observed during the 2023 WASSCE examinations. Despite being invited by the Council, four candidates who engaged in this act failed to appear.
Mrs. Addy-Lamptey urged students to refrain from such practices, emphasizing that these stickers would not guarantee success.
Another concern raised was the increasing number of candidates failing to write their names and index numbers on answer booklets, which prevents the processing of their results. “Ensure that you write both names and index numbers on your scripts,” she advised.
Mrs. Addy-Lamptey also reported an uptick in candidates seeking post-examination assistance from examiners by writing notes and enclosing their phone numbers in their scripts instead of answering the questions.
The Council views such acts as attempts to seek external assistance.
She expressed alarm over the rise in examination malpractice cases, particularly the misuse of mobile phones and cheating devices.
“The proliferation of cheat and rogue websites and the availability of cheating devices are also on the rise. This is a worrying phenomenon and must be curbed before it destroys the moral fiber of our dear nation,” she stated.
The Head of National Office called on all stakeholders to actively combat examination malpractices to protect the future of students.
She appealed to the awardees to serve as ambassadors in the fight against these practices, believing their peers would heed their call.
Mrs. Addy-Lamptey emphasized the importance of annual sensitization for candidates on the rules and regulations governing examinations.
She assured that supervisors and invigilators would also undergo briefing sessions to maintain order during examinations.
Due to Ghana not synchronizing its academic calendar with five other member countries, Ghanaian candidates will sit for the WASSCE for Schools 2024 from August to September, starting with the Visual Art Project on Monday, August 5, 2024, and ending on Friday, September 27, 2024, with Chemistry papers.
The Council offers numerous resources to support candidates, including the Chief Examiner’s Report available on its website.
Mrs. Addy-Lamptey encouraged candidates to avoid malpractices and focus on studying hard to succeed.
She celebrated the achievement of Ghanaian candidates who excelled in the 2023 WASSCE, out of 2,327,342 candidates from five African countries.
Three Ghanaian students won the top three prizes at the International Excellence Awards, making
