The Deputy Minority spokesperson on education, Yaw Owusu Boateng, has called for increased public pressure to compel the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), to cancel all the examination papers that allegedly leaked in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The council in a statement said it would not cancel the said leaked papers.
WAEC’s statement added that the remaining papers would be taken as scheduled whilst investigations continue to fish out those responsible for the leakage.
President Mahama has condemned the commission’s lackadaisical approach that has led to a repeat of the incident, after a similar one during the 2015 BECE. The President, who has directed the BNI to assist with investigations into the leakage, has however asked the council to put its house in order.
Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Owusu Boateng insisted that the affected papers should be canceled and candidates prepared to re-sit the affected papers. According to him, certificates issued by WAEC will not be recognized if nothing is done about the situation.
“I’m a bit surprised that the examination council is saying that they are not going to cancel the papers. Every examination is supposed to be a secret so if there is a foreknowledge of the exams, it means the exams has leaked, no matter the language that you use. The leaked examination should be cancelled and re-written otherwise the value of the certificate or the grades the people get is eroded. So I don’t understand what the exams council is trying to say. I think pressure should be brought to bear on them so they cancel the papers no matter the inconveniences that it will create for the students and parents,” he argued.
Yaw Owusu Boateng also called for the dismissal of the head of WAEC, Rev. Sam Nii Nmai Ollennu, since two major leaks have so far occurred under his watch.
“I think we should consider sacking him now. The fact is that, for some time now the leakages are becoming too frequent. As for examination leakages and rumors of leakages, it’s been there since Adam. But if now there is a belief that some papers have leaked and he himself has confirmed that fact. If it’s once we forget; but for the second time we should begin to become apprehensive because there might be something wrong with the system and it must be purged. Everything that should be repaired should start from the boss,” the MP added.
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