President of NAGRAT, Christian Addai-Poku
The biennial National Delegates Conference of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has ended in Bolgatanga in the Upper East region with a call on the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to stop its bullying posture.
The three-day delegates’ conference, which was held in the region for the first time, was under the theme, ‘Protecting the integrity of examinations; if not us, then who?’
Delegates from across the country met to discuss pertinent issues on education, welfare of teachers and protection of the integrity of examinations in the country.
In an address to the delegates and members of the public, the President of the NAGRAT, Christian Addai-Poku said teachers, as stakeholders in education sector, have a responsibility to protect the sanctity of the country’s educational system, including its assessment process.
According to Mr. Addai-Poku, WAEC over the years has wielded enormous power, which is affecting its efficiency as an examination body.
He added that the actions and inactions of WAEC have over the years gone unchallenged and that the time has come for the public and all stakeholders to demand efficiency and some respect from WAEC since the government and its appointees are indifferent.
He mentioned that the conference was primarily to put WAEC on the spotlight and thoroughly discuss the way forward to ensure sanity in examination processes and also find measures to fight certain ‘wishy-washy’ decisions WAEC takes at will because of the powers it wields.
The NAGRAT President questioned why the examination governing body should inconvenience parents, students and teachers by changing venues for examination in the course of examination just because it suspects some people of engaging in malpractices.
‘Instead of abusing its power by inconveniencing people under its control, WAEC could just beef up security at the examination venue if invigilators are the cause of the malpractice,’ he added.
He bemoaned the psychological trauma and the extra cost WAEC imposes on students and parents, adding that the time has come for someone to tell WAEC that ‘we are sick and tired of the bullying posture.’
The Bishop of the Bolgatanga-Navrongo Diocese of the Catholic Church, Right Rev. Alfred Agenta, in a keynote address, intimated that although WAEC should be largely blamed for the incessant leakage of examination papers, the impunity and greed of some Ghanaians should also be blamed for the leakage of examination papers.
He said WAEC’s core position as the foremost examination running body in West Africa had been compromised owing to the involvement of some of its officials in the leakage of question papers.
He therefore called for a total overhaul of systems and administrative structures of WAEC to stop leakages that have characterized examinations over the years in the country.
