Editorial
A second look at examination malpractices
Dear Editor
A revelation from a recent study that cheating or examination malpractices is on the rise is quite worrying.
The study which covered the periods from 2021 and 2023 showed a massive a two per cent increase from 2021 to 10 per cent in 2023.
What is even more alarming is the number of students involved in the act.
According to the report, the over 10,000 students that engaged in the act rose to close to 45,000 in 2023 and identified collusion, bringing of foreign materials and mobile phones into examination halls and impersonation as some of the common forms of malpractice.
This is a menace the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has made a lot of noise about not just in the media but through several interactive platforms.
Years in and out, several papers from venues where those suspicions arose have had their papers cancelled and a few arrested and prosecuted. All of this is to serve as a deterrent to others.
But if the problem persists after all of these, then it means there may be something wrong somewhere that the authorities have not averred their minds to.
Much as the authorities identify ways to curb the aforementioned mode of operation, the Ghana Education Service (GES) should also intensify its supervision on the preparations of the school children for the exams.
Considering the numbers involved in the act against the overall numbers registered, they still form a minority of children who may be ill prepared for the exams.
The GES officials from its monitory department should pay unexpected visits to the schools and observe at first hand the kind of preparation the children are given.
After that, we’ll be in a better position to know what actually the problem with the children is.
Samuel Ofoli Kwei,
Asylum Down-Accra
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
