Public Relation Officer of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) ,John Kapi has described the first day of the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination as smooth and orderly despite reports highlighting exam malpractices in three regions.
The regions in which the malpractices were recorded are the Ashanti, Greater Accra and Central parts of the country.
According to the PRO, in the Ashanti region , a student was picked up for attempting to enter the examination hall with foreign material .
He also emphasized that his outfit has taken strict measures to deal with candidates who are likely to flout regulations regarding the exams and forestall any unforeseen disturbances.
Speaking in a media engagement, John Kapi stated the detailed report received from the various regions on the stated malpractices and how they intend to deal with the offenders.
” In total, per the reports we have received today, the atmosphere across all the regions has been largely peaceful and orderly apart from isolated incidents in the Ashanti, Central and Greater Accra regions. In Tema Central, we have information that a lady was preparing to pass exam related information to candidates before their entrance into the hall and she was subsequently picked up by security agents for further investigations.
In the Central Region, two individuals were caught answering exam questions in the middle of an answer booklet in the course of the exam ,which they were preparing to send to a candidate sitting for the exams as well.
All these individuals have been arrested and per the law, they are in the custody of the security agencies for further questioning and possible prosecution before the courts for flouting laid down rules and procedures .
We have recruited security personnel and officials from the National Investigations Bureau to help us to weed out such miscreants for immediate action”.
John Kapi further highlighted the fact that this year’s exams , there are more female candidates than males which is a good signal that the gender gap in education is gradually being closed as a result of credible policy solutions by various governments in the intervening period.
” Per official records for this year’s exams, we are having more female candidates than males, which breaks the age long jinx of males dominating the exams and dwindling number of girls in school especially at the basic education level, and it is worth commending.
It is a good signal for sustained progress in society to see more females get enrolled in school to have a better chance of success in future which is a win for us all”.
