By Gideon Adonai
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has cautioned the examination officials, particularly the supervisors, to guide against any form of misconduct in their centres.
The Council, on Monday released a contact line to report malpractices.
The examination commenced on Monday the 8th of May.
The deputy registrar and Ikeja zonal coordinator of WAEC, Dr Amos Dangut, gave the advice at a workshop at the Government Secondary School, Agege, to sensitise the supervisors on the ‘dos and don’ts’ expected of them and candidates during the examination.
The supervisors comprise secondary school principals and teachers nominated by the various state ministries of education to help the WAEC to conduct its examinations at various centres and ensure the exercise is hitch-free.
AF24NEWS reports that the body appears to be tightening security against paper leakage.
Our correspondent gathered that the council on Wednesday the 17th changed its Paper 1 question at about 8:35am, after the initial paper had leaked and was circulating on online message platforms.
Meanwhile, the exam was to hold 9:30, according to the timetable.
Evidence shows that the initial Comprehension Passage began with “Olowogbo High School” before being changed to a latter one.
Speaking to students about the conduct of exams, AF24NEWS correspondent in Lagos was told that examiners were strict for English as most students were on their own.
Omorinsola Akinyemi [not real name], student of a private school in Oshodi Isolo area disclosed that no one was able to pick a falling pencil from the ground because they external invigilator was very strict.
“It was a woman and she did not allow for any kind of irregularities. It was quite unexpected. They also said the same would come for mathematics. So everyone is on their own.
Confirming the case, a student from the another school, Olufemi Akingbade said “It was a no show thing. The examiner was very strict.
However, it was a different case in another school, [name withheld] as candidates closing from exams said “it was not as tense as people are saying in others schools.”
But, speaking further, Dangut charged the supervisors to understand their roles, which according to him include, educating their students who are the candidates and the invigilators who are the teaching staff as well as the principals on the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the examination.
He said students would need to be warned not to bring prohibited items such as cell phones, scientific calculators and lesson notes, among others into the examination halls, while the invigilators are expected to adhere strictly to the rules of their engagement.
Giving more insights into the workshop with 286 participants in attendance, the head of Exams Administration, WAEC, Mr Adedayo Simeon, told the supervisors that they are expected to ensure that candidates write their names and examination numbers on top of their question papers, while they cross-check the attendance with CIVAPEMS and mark the sheets to ensure candidates’ details match their photo albums.
He also asked them to ensure that they write on the notice board the time each paper is starting and the time candidates are expected to stop as well as to also report cases of malpractice against the security agents or any of the designated WAEC officials.
He said they should all know that they would be held responsible for any breach in their respective centres.
Simeon emphasised that WAEC as an institution had a zero tolerance for misconduct, especially cheating, during its various examinations and would not spare anyone found culpable.
He, however, promised that WAEC would continue to protect the integrity of its certificates by conducting credible examinations in both the May\June school-based and the two other diets for the private candidates.
2022 Cancelled Results
The subject results of 3,845 candidates were cancelled for sending foreign material into the examination hall.
The entire results of some 518 candidates were also been cancelled for sending mobile phones into the examination hall.
Withheld results
The entire results of some 117 candidates were also withheld pending the conclusion of investigations into alleged cases of impersonation detected during the examination.
The scripts of some other candidates from 179 schools in certain subjects also scrutinised for reported cases of collusion.
In Monday’s statement, WAEC released phone number for the reportage of irregularities in exam centres.
It reads: “Report examination malpractice cases and irregularities in the ongoing WASSCE for School Candidates, 2023, to us on WhatsApp via 07047674637.”
