Tepa (Ash), May 30, GNA- Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of Communications, has warned that government would be ruthless with anyone caught engaged in examination malpractices, "as it is destroying the image of the nation".

He said examination leakages and malpractices damaged the credibility of certificates awarded to deserving students. Mr Kan-Dapaah was speaking at the 40th Anniversary and Speech and Prize-giving Day of the Tepa Secondary School (TESS) at Tepa in the Ahafo-Ano North District in the Ashanti Region at the weekend. The theme of the anniversary was: "Quality Education Delivery In Less Endowed Schools - The Challenges".

Mr Kan-Dapaah stated that Government was taken a serious view of the problem and advised students to make the best use of their time and study hard to avoid the temptation of procuring examination papers illegally.

The Communications Minister also asked teachers to ensure that their syllabi were well covered so that students would feel confident to face any examination that came their way.

The Minister touched on the need for multi-sectoral approach to address drug abuse among students.

He pointed out that such practices have adverse effects on the socio-economic development of the nation and asked school authorities to deal drastically with any student found indulging in the act. Mr Kan-Dapaah decried the encroachment on school lands and directed schools to secure title deeds to cover such lands.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Regional Minister, advised the students to strive to achieve greater heights in their various areas of endeavour, since education was meant to mould them into responsible citizens. Mr Emmanuel Osei, Headmaster of TESS, expressed dissatisfaction about the upsurge of Indian hemp smoking among the students and said the Police arrested some of them during a swoop.

He said realising the grave consequences of this development, the Guidance and Counselling Department has taken up the challenge and arranged series of lectures on the negative effects of drug addiction.