Explainer: WAEC clears air on alleged leak of question papers in ongoing 2020 WASSCE
A few days ago, Nigeria's internet space was awash with news stories claiming that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) had confirmed leakage of the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
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However, WAEC in a new press statement signed by Demianus G. Ojijeogu, the acting head of public affairs, on Thursday, August 20, has explained the true story concerning the alleged leak.
No leakage
According to WAEC, the media reports claiming WASSCE papers leaked are not true.
Source: UGC
The examination council said its investigations revealed that some unscrupulous and unpatriotic supervisors/invigilators, and in some cases, candidates, snap the question papers (while the examination is in progress) and forward to their outside collaborators who in turn, provide solutions to the questions which they send to their subscribers via criminally-inclined websites, SMS and Whatsapp.
"For the avoidance of doubt, and for the benefit of the general public, there has been no leakage of any paper, whatsoever," the council said.
WAEC notes that the use of cell phones in the examination hall is not allowed, according to its regulations.
The council debunked the media reports allegedly misquoting the head of the national office of WAEC-Nigeria, Patrick Areghan, as confirming the leak.
Culprits arrested
The West African examination council said some of the culprits involved in the malpractice who were caught in Bauchi, Nasarawa and Rivers states have been arrested and will be prosecuted.
Supervisors should justify the confidence reposed in them
WAEC has also called on secondary school teachers who are supervising the exams to justify the confidence reposed in them by the various state ministries of education that nominated them for the exercise.
The Council also urged news media outlets to guide against sensational and irresponsible journalism.
It re-assured its stakeholders and the general public that the ongoing WASSCE for School Candidates, 2020 has not been compromised, adding that none of the question papers has leaked.
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Meanwhile, a Twitter user identified as Precious recently caused a buzz on social media after she took to the platform to narrate the experience of a student who recently started her WASSCE.
In a series of tweets, Precious alleged that the student was insulted and given less time than allocated to write her exams all because she wouldn't cheat but "write from her head".
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Source: Legit.ng
