Parliamentary Committee considers meeting to deal with WAEC leak
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, William Agyepong Quaittoe, has hinted on an urgent meeting with the Ministry of Education towards resolving leakages detected in the ongoing exit exams for Senior High Schools (SHSs).
He was hoping the full committee “could ” reconvene to deliberate on the issue.
However, parliament’s recess could pose challenges for such a gathering.
This is due to a claim by the Africa Education Watch, an education organisation, to the effect that some questions including the Integrated Science paper in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) had leaked.
Attached to the leaked papers were the list of examiners with corresponding phone numbers and email addresses.
The list is reported to have been in circulation on social media pages including Facebook and WhatsApp platforms where candidates subscribe and receive the information from a source identified as ‘Mr Right’.
Mr Quaittoe told Joy FM even though WAEC is “not answerable to us (parliament), but the Ministry”, the CEO of WAEC could come with the Minister of Education to provide answers at the meeting.
He said after studying a petition which has been forwarded to his office, he would speak with the leadership of Parliament and “see if they will help us bring WAEC to meet, if not all the committee, a section of the committee. I will say the leadership of the committee.”
Leaks “worrying”, “disturbing” and compromising security of examiners – NAGRAT
Meanwhile, the National President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Eric Angel Carbonu, has condemned the development.
“It is a very worrying and disappointing development and a scale-up of the malfeasance that has bedevilled our examinations in this country,” he criticised.
He said they heard the news of the circulation of the particulars of examiners in “shock and surprise”.
Even though some work as examiners discreetly because of their work in schools, they have been exposed “compromising their security”, he lamented.
He wants a full investigation into the matter, and the culprits brought to book.
WAEC reports leaked examiners’ list to police
In response to the leakages, WAEC issued a statement indicating that “investigations into this disturbing development” had commenced” and they have “reported the matter to the Cyber Crime Department of the Ghana Police Service.”
“Council wishes to reiterate its commitment to safeguarding the integrity and credibility of its examinations and certificates respectively”, WAEC added.