Accra (Greater Accra), 15th June 99 -

The Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSSCE) would from 2001 be taken in the months of May and June to bring it in line with the school calendar.

The SSSCE examination for private candidates would take place for the first time between November and December this year together with the public schools' examinations.

Rev. Ebenezer Allotey, Head of SSSCE of the Administration Department of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) said this on Monday at a seminar organised for final year senior secondary school (SSS) students in Accra.

The seminar was under the theme: "Time with WAEC", and was meant for students to familiarise themselves with the usual problems associated with WAEC examinations.

It was to see how best they could avoid such problems either before or during the examinations.

It brought together students from various schools in Accra and Mawuli Senior Secondary School in the Volta Region.

Rev Allotey said WAEC had been allowing the registration of seven subjects but this year the number was increased to eight adding that in October this year, Oral English examination would be administered.

He said WAEC has introduced the Ghana Commercial Examinations, which used to be known as Royal Society of Arts (RSA).

Rev Allotey said WAEC has the mandate to ensure that students pass their examinations but if they act in a way that makes them fail, they should not blame the Council.

He warned students against examination malpractice, saying they all contribute to "you failing your exams because either your results will be withheld or cancelled and at times one person's fault might affect a whole school or the Council".

He said carrying of all forms of foreign materials to the examination hall are some of the things that lead to the cancellation of students results.

Others are leakage, cheating during the examinations, seeking help from invigilators, impersonation and school authorities condoning and conniving with students.

Rev Allotey, answering a question on change in school syllabus, said it was due to the introduction of the educational reform but said the contents of the subjects remain the same.

GRi?/