Professor Ransford Van Gyampo, an Associate Professor at the University of Ghana, has suggested to stakeholders in the education sector and government to consider other examination institutions. He said since the West African Examination Council (WAEC) over the years has kept having examination question leakage issues, this will be ideal.
He intimated that since the leakages happen every year,;having a Ghanaian owned examination council will be ideal to help put regulations in place to check and also generate internationally recognized result. Professor Gyampo explained this will be ideal,;since the WAEC certificate doesn’t pass for international students’ application.
“I don’t know what will happen if we have Ghana Examination Council. I don’t know what will happen if we have a body called International Examination Council that examines and the outcome of examinations that are taken by students all over the country and becomes very much recognized. This thing is becoming one too many and if there are other examining bodies, I think it will be ideal. People don’t even operate with that certificate anymore because everybody wants to go abroad.”
Professor Gyampo
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Question leakage, a problem for WAEC
Speaking on the recent leakage which led to the cancellation of two papers, he stated the leakages seems to be a problem for WAEC since they have not been able to resort to a solution to defy this long-time problem. He added that this sometimes affect very innocent people who may have spent a lot of time learning, describing the situation as worrying.
“It appears there’s one problem worrying this examining body;and once they are unable to wrap their heads around it in terms of solution,;then as a nation I don’t know but we may have to rethink their continuous usage as a body that examines. It appears that from time immemorial up till now,;the challenge with proper examining has plagued the WAEC and the only key solution they have often resorted to is to cancel results.”
Professor Gyampo
Seek help from higher educational institutions
Professor Gyampo then urged the examination council to seek help from institutions of higher learning;to learn how to set the exam questions and also;to learn how to prevent the leakages of exam questions. He then urged them to adopt safe keeping techniques;to ensure that the questions do not leak before the examination day.
“I print my exam questions. I print one copy and there is a centre for the duplication of the questions that are printed. So, there are 1500 students,;so you go there with one copy and then they do that one and photocopy the rest. After that they give you the original copy and will also package the printed questions and give to you. You are in charge of the safe keeping of the questions that you have set.”
Professor Gyampo
He therefore noted that every individual with the examination institution has the responsibility to ensure that the questions are in safe custody and also prevent it from leaking. He then questioned why some of the basic things done in tertiary institutions cannot be done by WAEC as it can help improve the institution.
