The West African Examination Council (WAEC) says it will not cancel its question papers that were leaked to students taking part in this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Reports on Wednesday revealed that some students in the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions had access to the examination papers between 12:00am midnight and 4:00a.m on the day the papers were written.
The Oral English, Integrated Science paper, Social Studies and now physics, have all leaked. There were also pictures on social media showing students copying answers.
But a statement signed by Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, WAEC’s Deputy Director of Public Affairs said “the papers already written will not be cancelled. She said the remaining papers will be taken as scheduled and investigations will continue and persons found culpable will be appropriately sanctioned.”
How the papers leaked
The statement explained that before the said papers were issued from the depots, the council detected a number of different versions of the questions in circulation but found them to be fake.
“It was however discovered that some authentic questions went into circulation after the papers were released to the examination centres. The council suspects that this foreknowledge was perpetrated through the connivance of some persons engaged for the conduct of the examination and their agents. The council, with the assistance of the Security agencies, is tracking down these persons for prosecution.”
Below is the full statement from WAEC:
ALLEGED LEAK OF THREE PAPERS OF THE WASSCE FOR SCHOOL CANDIDATES, 2016
The Council wishes to state that before the said papers were issued from the depots, it had detected a number of different versions of the questions in circulation but found them to be fake.
It was however discovered that some authentic questions went into circulation after the papers were released to the examination centres.
The council suspects that this foreknowledge was perpetrated through the connivance of some persons engaged for the conduct of the examination and their agents. The council, with the assistance of the Security agencies, is tracking down these persons for prosecution.
Candidates are cautioned to stay away from such materials as the council has the mechanism to detect those who benefit from the malpractice, and will not hesitate to apply sanctions.
Based on the foregoing and analysis of the reports received so far from the field, the Council wishes to assure the general public that:
1. The papers already written will not be cancelled;
2. The remaining papers will be taken as scheduled;
3. The investigations will continue and person found culpable will be sanctioned as appropriate.
The council urges all candidates to remain calm and focused, in the wake of these unfortunate developments.
The general public is hereby invited to offer any information they may have which could be of assistance to the council in preventing the malpractice on telephone number 0208179309.
Media houses are also entreated to be circumspect in their reportage on the ongoing examination in order not to create unnecesary anxiety among candidates.
The council wishes all candidates well and reminds them that they can pass the examination without cheating.
Signed
Agnes Teye-Cudjoe (Mrs)
Deputy Director, Public Affairs
for: Head of National Office
– See more at: https://citifmonline.com/2016/04/06/leaked-papers-wont-be-cancelled-waec/