WAEC introduces biometric verification for 2019 students

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has revealed that it will adopt different strategies to ensure examination malpractices are curbed.

According to WAEC, all candidates will have their finger prints captured and will be subsequently biometrically verified.

It is to ensure that none of the students partaking in the West African Senior School Examinations (WASSCE) is impersonated.

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This was disclosed by the Head of National Office of WAEC, Wendy Addy-Lamptey, during the WAEC Distinction Awards for the 2018 WASSCE Best Candidates, held on Friday.

She further lamented the growing rate of impersonation cases recorded during the WASSCE.

“The canker is eating deep into some schools and we are now recording impersonation cases in school examinations, something that was unthinkable a few years ago."

“In order to nip in the bud the growing trend of impersonation, the registration exercise for the 2019 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), for the first time, captured finger prints of the candidates. Every candidate for this year’s examination would be biometrically verified,” Mrs Addy-Lamptey stated.

The top three overall best students awards in the country, for the 2018 WASSCE, went to females.

Wilhermina Opoku, a former student of the Wesley Girls’ High School, was adjudged the Overall Best Student in Ghana; while Sarpong Brago Afrifa, formerly of Yaa Asantewaa Girls' SHS, was the Overall Second Best Student in Ghana and

Meanwhile, Imelda Naa Ayorkor Adjei, also a former student of the Wesley High Girls' School, came third.

The Overall Best Student in General Arts award went to Davina Seyram Gbedy, another former student of Wesley Girls' High School.

The Overall Best Business student award also went to Dennis Acquah, a former student of St Augustine's College.

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Meanwhile, Wilhermina Opoku again doubled as the Overall Best Student in the General Science Programme.

Mrs Addy-Lamptey said WAEC is concerned by examination centres which aid in malpractices and warned that her outfit is on the lookout to fish out such centres.

“For the private candidates examination, the activities of ‘soft’ or ‘miracle’ centres are becoming a source of concern to us. We are, however, determined to intensify the fight against all forms of examination malpractices by providing further training for supervisors and invigilators.

“We will also continue to expand the scope of our sensitisation to reach many more candidates with rules and regulations of the examination and to assure them that they can pass the examination without cheating,” she added.

The 2019 WASSCE will take place from Monday, April 8 and end on Friday, June 7.

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Source: YEN.com.gh