The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has described claims by the Africa Education Watch, of the leakage of the Food and Nutrition examination questions, as misleading and untrue.
In a presser by the Council, it said there was no leakage on Friday, August 20, 2021 and further stated that the false claim is creating anxiety in the both students and the general public.
“We wish to emphatically state that information put out by EduWatch about the alleged leakage of the food and nutrition paper on Friday is untrue. It is misleading and it’s creating anxiety among the candidates and among our public.”
WAEC
The Head of National Office, WAEC, Wendy Addy-Lamptey, reacting in the statement said the purported leaked questions presented by EduWatch were different from the ones the students wrote.
“While the actual paper requested candidates to prepare a three-course meal for an ulcer patient, the purported leaked question paper received from EduWatch requested for a two-course meal for a lactating mother.”
Wendy Addy-Lamptey
She further indicated that the screenshot question paper forwarded to WAEC by the EduWatch was full of spelling and grammatical errors which could certainly not have emanated from WAEC.
EduWatch on leaked questions
The Executive Director of the African Education Watch (EduWatch), Mr. Kofi Asare, prior to this claimed on social media that the Food and Nutrition question for the 2021 WASSCE examination had leaked. In this regard, he said EduWatch had taken steps to notify WAEC of the leak.
“We reported to West African Examinations Council (WAEC) at 11:10 AM, and can now confirm it is indeed a genuine leak. The paper is just starting at the Centres”.
EduWatch
EduWatch further noted it has activated its monitoring systems to check the activities of WAEC during the 2021 WASSCE for school candidates with the help of OXFAM. It said the exercise is aimed at ensuring there is improve accountability in the Education Assessment Sector.
WAEC at loss with EduWatch’s intentions
However, Wendy Addy-Lamptey said WAEC is at loss with the intentions behind EduWatch’s actions. She then urged all stakeholders to do due diligence in ensuring that reports publicized do not have the tendency to mislead, cause unnecessary anxiety and undermine the credibility of the Examination Council.
“If care is not taken, reputations of institutions and the nation as a whole could be irreparably damaged in the eyes of the international community.
“This is not the first time we have had such misleading circulation from EduWatch. While we welcome feedback which we believe helps us to take corrective actions to improve. Reckless circulations like this create needless pressure on WAEC, candidates, parents and stakeholders.”
Wendy Addy-Lamptey
Be circumspect with reportage
Wendy Addy-Lamptey further noted that the continuous circulation of such false reports has the capability of denting the image of the country to the international education bodies.
She explained that, local and international bodies that use the WAEC results for tertiary admissions will doubt the credibility of the certificate.
She then entreated all stakeholders to be circumspect in their reportage especially with issues related to the ongoing WASSCE examination.
