Sunyani, July 21, GNA - An official of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) has attributed financial malfeasance and other forms of corruption in government and private organizations to examination malpractices.

Mr Thomas Derry noted that students who "steal" their way to higher offices through examination malpractices would not find it difficult to engage in corrupt practices when they are employed. Speaking to Ghana News Agency in an interview in Sunyani, he entreated employers to scrutinize records of persons who apply for employment before considering them.

Such measures, he said, would prevent square pegs from forcing themselves into round holes and would also deter students from engaging in examination irregularities.

The WAEC official expressed regret that though perpetrators of examination malpractices "are given very stringent punishment yet, every year cases of these malpractices are reported".

Mr Derry cautioned that, examination malpractice was a crime, equally serious as any other form of theft or robbery; hence culprits should be dealt with accordingly.

He warned candidates that the Council's regulations "do not allow candidates to send mobile phones and programmed calculators into examinations halls"

Mr Derry asked parents and teachers to provide the needs of candidates to enable them to prepare adequately before the examinations. He noted that, examination malpractices were the result of laziness on the part of students in recent times, saying the youth have prioritised entertainment and pleasure at the expense of their books. The WAEC official blamed the media; especially radio stations for promoting songs with obscene lyrics that had engaged the attention of the youth, mostly the students. 21 July 04