Exam. Malpractice: Child Rights, WAEC in Row

The publication of names and pictures of students who are alleged to have engaged in examination malpractices has pitted the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) against some groups in the country who are concerned with child rights issues. In separate interactions with the Daily Graphic, Child Rights International (CRI) and another group which described itself as concerned citizens condemned the publication of the pictures of the students, claiming it violated their rights. �On Friday, September 4, 2009, we were shocked by the publication in the Daily Graphic of the names and pictures of some students who were reported to have engaged in examination malpractices,� a statement jointly signed by Nana Prempeh Agyemang, Akuba Amponsah and Michael Omari-Wadie on behalf of the concerned citizens, said in a statement to the Daily Graphic. For its part, the CRI said the action of WAEC would not augur well for the development and future of the affected students. But WAEC says it stands by the practice and would not stop as long as candidates continue to cheat in examination. The acting Head of Test Administration of WAEC, Mr Kweku Nyamekye-Aidoo, told the Daily Graphic that the previous sanctions such as the cancellation of papers were not working, adding that the WAEC Law (Act 719), which criminalized copying in examination, did not make provision for age. �Did those who passed the law not know that it was going to affect children?� he asked, and called on all parents, teachers and society at large to join in the fight against examination malpractice. The concerned group argued that it was ironic that in the said publication, AWEC stated that the names and not pictures of such candidates should be published. They said much as they did not condone examination malpractice, they also believed that canceling the examination papers of the candidates, banning them from taking part in examinations for a year and also publishing their names in the dailies were enough punishment.