Mass re-sit…..BECE in Danger

Very reliable information reaching the Network Herald from high places at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), seem to suggest that the just ended Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) could be cancelled, as a result of damning media reports that the examination papers were leaked out to interested parties before the period of the examinations.

WAEC officials have already made some very extensive investigation into the matter and maintain that if investigations launched into the matter proves true, there is a greater possibility that this year’s papers could be cancelled .

WAEC officials have already made some very extensive investigation into the matter and maintain that if investigations launched into the matter proves true, there is a greater possibility that this year’s papers could be cancelled .The Council would also be ready then to reprimand those behind the syndicate. This latter group includes those caught in possession of foreign materials.

These officials who describe themselves Concerned Workers say should WAEC deny the claims as a face saving strategy when it is true, the results of the students would embarrass them.

Both the Ministry of Education (MOE) and WAEC initially denied reports of the alleged leakage. The Examinations body had described the allegation as baseless but immediately after the exams last Friday evening it issued a press statement that sought to confirm that some papers of the just ended BECE papers were after all leaked.

The statement signed by the Head of the National office of WAEC, Mrs. Lydia Kpodo said the confirmation follows investigations into media reports of leakage of the BECE papers. The release stated that a committee had subsequently been set up to investigate the source and extent of leakage for the necessary action to be taken.

Minister for Girl Child Education Christen Churcher (MP) on her way to Accra from Yendi had not been officially briefed when contacted at the time of going to press and would therefore she is officially briefed when she got to headquarters. She had however heard all about the alleged leakage on radio. She confirmed she had not talked to anybody but expected the exam council to do an extensive investigation before taking any decision.

In a related development, police sources have confirmed that two people have been apprehended in possession of examination papers. Candidates and parents the Network Herald spoke to doubted whether the media onslaught on the examinations could serve any good.

While parents felt traumatised at the possibility that they would have to re-psyche their wards immediately after a test for the same tests. Last week, a combined team of WAEC officials and the police nabbed four students including a girl at the Kinbu Secondary School Examination centre in possession of foreign materials.