WAEC to bar candidates found with mobile phones

With effect from next year, any candidate who flout West African Examination Council (WAEC) rules by sending a mobile phone to an exams hall, would have his or her papers cancelled.

The culprit would also be barred from writing any WAEC exams for at least two years.

This decision now nullifies the earlier practice of WAEC cancelling only the paper for which a candidate might be caught cheating.

Rev Simon Asige, Director in charge of Secondary Education, Ghana Education Service (GES), gave the warning during the opening of a seven- day Human Rights and Integrity Camp for senior high schools (SHS) organised by the Commission for Human rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region.

He noted the new trend of sending mobile phones to exams hall had now compelled WAEC and GES to search students with metal detectors.

Rev Asige said WAEC had began the process of releasing WASSCE results of more than 2,000 students whose resulted were suspended for various reasons.

He said a sizable number of the students who results were not released was due to non-payment of fees.

Mr Joseph Whittal, Deputy Commissioner, CHRAJ, who opened the workshop which was sponsored by the Danish Government, said the programme would serve as a platform for students to brainstorm, discuss and learn more about human rights in general and the prevailing fundamental human rights issues in the country.

“This is in accordance with Article 218(f) of the 1992 Constitution which mandates the Commission to educate the public as to human rights and freedoms by such means as the Commissioner may decide, including publications, lectures and symposia,” he said.

Mr Whittal said through such programmes, the participants would become active in decision making, know more about their lives and rights and also take on the responsibility of educating their peers.

“These benefits make it all the more important to ensure that children’s participation is not limited to matters relating to their welfare but also extend to participation in governance as a whole.”

The programme which had become an annual event since 2011 attracted 120 participants from 60 SHS selected from the 10 regions, accompanied by 20 chaperons.

The participants would be groomed by human rights experts on topics such as self-esteem, respect, assertiveness, non-discrimination and self actualisation.

They would also embark on a study tour to CHRAJ office, Judicial Service, Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and other places of interest.

They would be awarded certificates of participation at the end of the camp, which is on the theme: “Ambassadors for Change”.

Source: GNA