Writing “help me” on Answer Booklets is Exam Malpractice- WAEC
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has instructed candidates of the Basic Education Certificate Examination to desist from soliciting external help through inducements and appeals on answer booklets.
The conduct, the Council noted, amounts to examination malpractice and is therefore punishable.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the examination on July 5, 2024, Mr John Kapi, the Head of Public Affairs Department of the WAEC said the conduct is becoming a growing concern.
He said they find appealing inscriptions and sometimes sums of money and candidates telephone numbers in and on their answer booklets soliciting help from examiners.
“The Council has noted with concern a number of cases where candidates write telephone numbers or the phrase “help me”, “call me”, “just call my mom” etc in their answer booklets. Others also insert various sums of money in their answer booklets soliciting for help from examiners.”
He added, “We wish to state clearly that this is classified as seeking external assistance and is a punishable offence. In addition, candidates should note that tearing part of the paper or answer booklets during the examination, refusing to submit the works script after the examination, and seeking or receiving help from non-candidates are forms of examination malpractice.”
The examination will be sat by 569,095 school candidates made up of 282,648 males and 286,447 females from 19,506 participating schools and 1,366 private candidates comprising 735 males and 631 females registered for the examination.
The exam will begin on Monday, July 8, 2024, and end on July 15, 2024.
