Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, has called for a bipartisan probe into the massive irregularities that reportedly punctuated the 2020 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations.
In a write-up commenting on the widespread malpractices that independent think tank, Education Watch, unearthed in a post mortem on the examinations, the Builsa South MP said a collaborative probe by the two sides of Parliament will help arrest a bad precedent.
“A bipartisan investigation of irregularities, leakages of examination papers and related malpractices, which have characterised WAEC administered WASSCE from 2010-2020 is necessary. Such an investigation should make consequential recommendations to end examination question leakages in Ghana. I will initiate moves in this regard,” Dr. Apaak wrote.
“The integrity of the examinations our wards write must be of concern to us. The integrity of the certificates our wards receive must occupy our attention. The world is watching.”
His comments come after an assessment by the respected Education think tank uncovered that among other things, there was
widespread leakages of examination papers.
Education Watch’s report also said for the first time ever in the history of the WASSCE, the contact details of examiners were leaked to students and parents.
The findings by Education Watch vindicate observation that the 2020 Running Mate to former President John Mahama, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agtemang, had made about supposed high pass rate in the exams.
Prof. Opoku Agyemang had expressed worry that government officials were celebrating the outcomes of the WASSCE as vindication of the quality of the Free SHS program even though the exams had been characterized by widespread leakage of examination questions.
In response, Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, had accused Prof. Opoku Agyemang of bastardizing the efforts of the children without any proof of the irregularities she complained about.
Interestingly, the same Education Minister has promised to look into the findings by Education Watch after it published its report.
Dr. Apaak however, demands more than the promise from the Education Minister.
“Urgent action is required because WASSCE 2021 is just around the corner, slated to commence sometime in September. Will WASSCE 2021 see worse irregularities and malpractices or improved integrity? This will logically depend on whether or not the Minister, Ministry of Education and WAEC will admit the findings of the Assessment Report and give effect to the recommendations made by African Education Watch.” he wrote.
