By Amadou Manjang
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has said one of the challenges the institution is facing is parents condoning examination malpractice among school going children.
‘We have observed that parents also perpetrate this act [examination malpractice] which is very disheartening’ Sang Sylvester Gomez, the Head of WAEC said.
Mr Gomez said parents are contributing to the menace of examination malpractice by not rejecting it.
‘Parents should support their children to be upright at all cost’ he added.
He added that the duty of parents is to support their children who cannot pass their exams to excel through studies, but not through examination malpractice.
He asserted that there are lots of students who are engaging in examination malpractice to get good results.
‘We are fighting hard and we want everybody to join us in this crusade,’ he emphasized.
In his call, he said: ‘We should all support one and other to make sure that this menace of examination malpractice is actually eradicated.’
Examination malpractice can lead to production of incompetent force, Mr Gomez further added.
At this juncture, he called on institutions to screen their employees before hiring them as it helps in curbing examination malpractice in schools and examination halls. He notes that this will enhance competence because only those with sound knowledge will be employed.
He said examination malpractice is corruption and it is criminal to engage in it.
‘It has the potential to erode the social fabric of our society,’ he said.
Meanwhile, he further said they are working to ensure examination malpractice is eradicated.
Acknowledging WAEC cannot do it alone, he called on principals, teachers and parents to join WAEC to eradicate examination malpractice in schools.
He said that society should not neglect their responsibility towards school going children because the consequences of their action will return to the society.
‘I want to take this opportunity to advise you [students] to desist from any form of examination malpractice in both internal and external examinations,’ he added.
