No cause for alarm over 2013 WASCCE exams

Story: Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy [Rainbow Radio]

The Ministry of Education has described as false publication by the Daily Graphic which sought to create an impression that, 400,000 students who were expected to write the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the month of April and May 2013 would face serious challenges such as inadequate examination halls, invigilators and science laboratories for practicals.

With a few weeks to the commencement of this year's WASSCE, reports say these challenges have been identified by the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education.

But the Public Relations Officer for the Ministry, Paul Kofi Krampah in an interview with Frontline hosted by Kwaku Owusu Frimpong in London and George Yaw Okyere explained that the only problem that may occur would be the science practicals and even that, the students would be doing the practicals in batches.

He has therefore debunked these allegations, explaining that in 2006 their outfit realised that this year, the number of students in normal schools would be increased, more than their counterparts’ technical and vocational students. He said due to this, the Ministry set up a committee to look into the issue and the possible challenges were addressed.

He mentioned that they have re-structured the academic calendar for the 2012/13 academic year to enable the final year students write their examination comfortably when the rest of the students’ would be on vacation.

Mr. Krampah revealed that additional three thousand classrooms have been constructed across the country to ensure a conducive atmosphere for teaching, learning and examination.

He however said that the increase in enrolment of science students may be the cause because of the inadequate science classrooms and laboratory for some of the students.

Mr. Krampah gave assurance that indeed students would write their WASSCE with no challenges and that there should not be any cause for alarm.