MP for Bibiani-Ahwiaso-Bekwai Calls on WAEC to Address Results Delays and Improve Processes
The Member of Parliament for Bibiani-Ahwiaso-Bekwai, Hon. Bright Asamoah Brefo, has urged the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to take more proactive steps to prevent delays in the release of examination results.
He made the call in a statement delivered on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
Hon. Brefo highlighted the issues surrounding the delayed release of the 2024 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results.
According to WAEC, delays were caused by the late release of funds from the Ministry of Education, which affected the timely completion of post-examination processes.
A press release issued by WAEC on December 9, 2024, revealed that although the marking of essay and practical components was completed by November 29, 2024, the scanning of objective test cards was stalled due to a breakdown of scanners, which could not be repaired due to lack of funds.
WAEC released the provisional results for the 2024 WASSCE on December 30, 2024, with 781 results being withheld due to alleged irregularities and exam malpractices. The council announced that the withheld results would be released by February 28, 2025, after investigations were completed.
But Hon. Brefo in his statement raised concerns about the logistical challenges faced by students, especially those from his constituency in the Western North Region.
Students whose results were withheld were asked to travel to Sekondi, the regional capital, to be questioned by WAEC. This decision added financial and emotional strain on both the students and their parents.
The MP expressed dissatisfaction over the fact that students were required to attend these sessions without their parents, guardians, or legal representation. He emphasized that this situation led to an unfortunate altercation between WAEC officials and parents, which culminated in the tragic death of Mr. Agyemang, also known as Papa Bruno, a WAEC official.
Hon. Brefo questioned whether it was fair for students to be held accountable for what he called WAEC’s negligence in ensuring the proper conduct of exams through their invigilators and examination officers. He also pointed out the issue of students receiving similar answers to past questions, which could contribute to perceived collusion and irregularities.
In light of these concerns, the MP expressed his belief that it was unfair for WAEC to flag 319 schools for alleged collusion based on the examiners’ script marking. He noted that some affected candidates had taken legal action against WAEC, resulting in a court ruling in their favor, ordering the release of their withheld results.
With university admissions already closed, Hon. Brefo urged the Ministry of Education, the government, and WAEC to take immediate steps to resolve these issues and prevent any further injustice to students.
Other MPs, including Hon. Peter Kwesi Nortsu-Kotoe, also expressed their concerns during the debate, urging WAEC to revisit some of its rules and regulations to ensure fairness and efficiency in its processes.
Source: Felix Nyaaba//expressnewsghana.com
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