The Eastern Regional Head of Test Administration of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), Mr Felix Akuffo Badoo has expressed worry about the high rate of examination malpractices by students in the country, blaming it on poor teaching and learning in the schools.

Speaking at a lecture on the theme “Examinations in Ghana”, he said, out of 240,662 students who sat for the May/June 2014 West Africa Senior High School Certificate Examination(WASSCE), 8,051 of them were involved in examination malpractice, which he said was alarming.

He added that lack of seriousness on the part of students and poor invigilation by teachers are the main causes of malpractices in examination centers in the country.

Mr Badoo said examination malpractices in the country has diverse effects on students, parents and the country both economically and financially and therefore urged students to desist from examination malpractices.

He said the WAEC will embark on a sensitization program in schools and examination centers prior to the conduct of examinations to avoid malpractices come next year.

Mr Badoo indicated that the council has plans of synchronizing scheduled time for the conduct of examinations for all member countries to minimize examination leakages.

He called for collective and collaborative efforts to help minimize the menace and urged teachers to enforce the rules and regulations of the examination on students to enable them to be conversant with it.

The Lay Chairman for the Koforidua Diocese of the Methodist Church, Madam Florence Gyebi – Twum, said as part of the church’s social responsibilities, lectures are organized every year by the Lay Movement Council of the Church for final year students to enlighten them on what to do during examination period.

She added that the lecture was organized to elaborate on issues that were vital to the students, the church, the community and the nation as a whole.

Madam Gyebi – Twum explained that the lecture was geared towards helping the students to build their morals and discipline during and before the examinations.

Participants were selected from both the Senior and Junior High schools in the Eastern Region.