<<Print>>

At least one official of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and 10 others, who were caught in examination malpractices during last year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), have been arrested and are facing prosecution, Samuel Okujeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Education (Tertiary), has revealed.

WAEC, in 2015, recorded some malpractices resulting in the cancellation of some papers. The examination body withheld the entire results of more than 6,800 pupils due to malpractices, which included the use of mobile phones to aid mass cheating.

A year on, Mr Ablakwa has revealed that some officials and candidates, who were allegedly involved in the malpractices were arrested and are currently facing prosecution.

He told Prince Minkah, host of the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Class 91.3 FM, Monday June 23, 2016: “Those who engaged in these malpractices last year have been arrested and are being prosecuted as I speak to you…so that should serve as deterrent.”

He added: “One WAEC official has been arrested and removed from office, he is facing prosecution, so, we take these matters seriously.”

He further indicated that new arrangements were in place to check examination malpractices as well as make it a highly risky area.

“…There are new arrangements [and] we expect that they will make it [malpractice] highly risky, so those who want to abuse the system will be minded to stay away,” he said.

“We are quite optimistic that these things can only ensure that the system is perfect.”