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A combination of factors hinders progress in our part of the world. A major factor is that some of our compatriots want to attain the best of life without working hard for it.

There is no shortcut to success in life and that is why anybody who wants to be successful must traverse the narrow path.

It is difficult to endure the pain associated with sacrifice, especially when it comes to ‘burning the midnight oil’ to prepare for examinations.

Although examination is said to not provide the best form of assessment of students, no alternative has yet been found more effective. Some people even think, quite unfortunately, that examination ‘favours the fool’.

School authorities and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) have tried at all times to insulate examinations from the unscrupulous actions and greed of some stakeholders.
Every year, the examining body puts in place measures to protect the integrity of its examinations but the greedy in our society find ways to beat the system.

Last year, for instance, a WAEC official and a policeman connived to steal question papers they were transporting to the Ashanti Region for selfish gain.

The implications of the leak of the 2015 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) on the entire society is quite unprecedented as the leak is massive.

It will certainly traumatise the students who are engaged in the BECE because they are going to suffer the consequences of the cancellation of the examination and the pain of a resit.

It is not only the students who will suffer. Also parents of the students, the government and the entire nation will pay the price for this leak as there is a cost to this negative development.

That is why those who have committed this despicable act to cause pain to the students and bring the conduct of this year’s BECE into disrepute must be dealt with.

WAEC has announced a probe into the leak but the Daily Graphic hopes there will be an end to this probe and those found culpable will not go scot free so as to serve as a deterrent to others. The government also must investigate this latest leak with the view to protecting the integrity of the examinations and the certificates.

More often than not, wrongdoers in our society have been allowed to make life uncomfortable for law-abiding citizens.
The Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, in a message to the students on the eve of the BECE encouraged them to do their best and abide by the rules and regulations that guide the conduct of the examination.
Unfortunately today, some people in our society have departed from time-tested values such as honesty, integrity and hard work and have chosen the dubious way to succeed. To them, the end justifies the means.

The Daily Graphic thinks that wrongdoing is assuming alarming proportions in our society because unlike the past when societal values would rein in deviants, now, we tend to worship material things and well-to-do persons without questioning the sources of their wealth.

Be that as it may, we think WAEC and the Ministry of Education should work hard to get to the bottom of the BECE leak to avoid a recurrence and protect the sanity and dignity of examinations and certificates issued by the examining body.