Dr Clement Apaak, following recent reports of cheating in the WASSCE, has stated that cheating among students at the WASSCE has gone up since the Free SHS policy was introduced.
He revealed this after the President of Ghana, Akufo-Addo revealed that the performance of WASSCE candidates has improved since the Free SHS policy was introduced by his government. He made the statement at the 61st Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS)
However, Dr. Appack, says the president has lost touch with the reality of the current state of Ghana’s education, and added that Ghana has not been participating in the WASSCE due to declining standards.
The member of Parliament’s Education Committee said this is why the National Teaching Council (NTC) wants a big budget of GHS7 billion to run the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE).
Dr. Clement Apaak also said that some of his university professor friends have complained about the quality of Senior High School (SHS) graduates from the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) scheme.
He said that the rise in cheating and other problems with exams was because teachers aren’t motivated and potential final-year students at the second cycle level aren’t getting a good education.
In a related development, WAEC has started marking the 2023 BECE. It is yet to be announced when the date markers (teachers) will start marking the 2023 WASSCE, administered to Senior High School final-year students from Ghana only.
In 2024, Ghana is expected to join other West African countries to write the International WASSCE, as was the case before the infamous COVID-19. This means the 2024 WASSCE for school candidates will start earlier, possibly in June or July 2024.
READ: Likely WASSCE Questions -Social Studies.
The WASSCE 2024 month will be confirmed when the Ghana Education Service releases the full academic calendar for SHS for the 2023/2024 academic calendar.