Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Education Minister
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has cancelled the results of a total of 134 candidates who sat for the 2018 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for alleged examination malpractices.
According to the press release signed by Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, a Deputy Director for Public Affairs at WAEC, the 134 were part of a total of 509,827 students who sat for the exams.
It said that the affected candidates had their results cancelled for sending foreign materials into the examination halls, collusion and engaging in irregular activities during the examinations.
According to the press release, the decision was taken after the examination body had concluded investigations into the reported cases of malpractices.
Owing to the cancellation, the affected students would have to resit the exams possible in 2019 to enable them progress to senior school level.
Further Probe
Additionally, the results of about 2,061 candidates have been withheld pending investigations by WAEC for alleged malpractices.
It said the results shall be released or cancelled after the probe.
The release revealed that a total of 509,827 candidates made up of 263,291 males and 246,536 females sat for the examination.
This figure is 8.92% higher than that of the previous year, it said, adding that the candidates were from a total of 16,060 schools and the exams took place at 1,772 centres.
Out of those who initially registered for the examination, 0.93 percent of the candidates were absent without reasons assigned to their absenteeism.
WAEC said, “The Council is in the process of dispatching the results to the schools through the Metropolitan/Municipal/District Directors of Education.”
The Council urged candidates who desire to access their results to visit://ghana.waecdirect.org/
By Melvin Tarlue