The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has closed down the Bantama Adventist Senior High School (ADASS) examination centre in Kumasi after reports of mass malpractice during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
According to WAEC, a total of 64 mobile phones were taken from students at the centre. The incident happened during the Elective Mathematics paper, where several students were caught using their phones in the exam hall.
Speaking on the matter, John Kapi, the Director of Public Affairs at WAEC, said the discovery was a serious breach of examination rules, and strict action had to be taken to protect the credibility of the exams.
As a result of the malpractice, WAEC decided that all future papers for the affected students will no longer be written at Bantama SHS. Instead, the candidates will now write their exams at the WAEC Hall in Kumasi. In fact, yesterday’s English paper was already moved to the new centre.
This development has caused a lot of concern among parents, teachers, and students across the country. Many believe it serves as a strong warning to other schools and candidates about the dangers of exam malpractice.
Examinations are meant to test students’ hard work and honesty. When cheating happens, it puts the integrity of the whole process at risk. WAEC has assured the public that it will continue to be strict in ensuring a fair and credible examination for all candidates.
