The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially begun administering the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates.
The exams, which kicked off on Monday, August 19, 2024, following the completion of the Visual Art Project work held from August 5 to 16, are set to conclude on Friday, September 20, 2024.
This year’s WASSCE has seen a total of 460,611 candidates, comprising 212,954 males and 247,657 females, from 1,003 schools across 1,000 centers nationwide, representing a 2.66% increase compared to the 2023 entry figure of 448,674 candidates.
WAEC has assured the public that all necessary security measures are in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the exams, however, the Council expressed concern over intelligence reports suggesting organized attempts at mass cheating by certain institutions.
According to these reports, candidates in some regions are being charged between GH¢200.00 and GH¢500.00 for assistance during the exams, with allegations that some supervisors plan to assign teachers to invigilate subjects they teach, while certain schools have reportedly registered individuals who are not genuine students.
In response to these reports, WAEC issued a stern warning to Heads of Schools, Supervisors, and Invigilators to refrain from engaging in any malpractice.
The Council emphasized that anyone caught participating in such activities would face severe penalties, including the nullification of entries or the cancellation of results, and examination centers that do not comply with the rules may be relocated to WAEC-designated centers.
In an exclusive interview with ATLFM NEWS, the Cape Coast branch controller for WAEC, Mrs. Lillian Frimpong emphasized that “Anyone caught assisting or participating in cheating will be dealt with according to the strict rules and regulations governing WAEC.”
She revealed that some teachers and candidates have expressed dissatisfaction with the unethical actions of certain educators and reiterated the importance of maintaining the integrity of the examination process.
Mrs. Frimpong also provided an update on the ongoing WASSCE, noting that the exams are now in their third week, urging all stakeholders, including teachers, candidates, and parents, to contribute to the successful conduct of the exams.
In her concluding remarks, Mrs. Frimpong encouraged schools to ensure that students who have registered twice or with different schools return to their original school to sit for the WASSCE.
This measure she noted is crucial to prevent the cancellation of their examination papers.
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Source: Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
