Prosecute Teachers involved in exams malpractices GES told

Kofi Asare, the Executive Director of Africa Education Watch (EduWatch), has asked for a thorough investigation into exam fraud.

His remarks follow the Upper East Security Coordinating Council’s Tuesday, August 2 closure of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute and the Bawku Technical Institute.

After security personnel thwarted their plot to cheat on an exam, students from both colleges destroyed school property, leading to the decision.

Kofi Asare praised the education minister for involving the National Intelligence Bureau in this year’s exam, but he also encouraged the Ghana Education Service to fire instructors who engage in such behavior to discourage others.

“The GES fired 11 instructors last year due to exam misconduct, and I believe the GES should do more of that.

It demotivates teachers to commit such activities if the GES employs more outright dismissals and stops disciplining instructors because suspensions are ineffective.Therefore, we want to see more instructors who are determined to be at fault being fired.”

Mr. Kofi Asare also encouraged the Ghana Police to complete its inquiries into incidences of exam fraud that had been brought to its attention.

“Upon all the petitions that African Education Watch, GES and WAEC submitted to the Ghana Police Service, not a single prosecution has been made since last year’s WASSCE. So there seems to be this inertia on the part of the police to prosecute persons participating in exams malpractices. So what needs to be done is that, the police must expedite action on such cases that are brought before it.”

Following a brawl earlier on Tuesday, the Bolgatanga Technical Institute (BOTECH) has been shut down by the Upper East Regional Security Council.

A few hours were provided to the students to leave the school grounds.

Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional Security Council, declared that the shutdown was everyone’s best option.

The final-year students will only be permitted to enter the building when they have a paper to write, he said.

“You have brought this upon yourself,” he informed the pupils.

The minister added that if the kids did not leave on time, security forces would deal with them.

Following the arrest of two of their classmates and a teacher for allegedly cheating on an exam, the students rioted.

Seven teacher-owned vehicles and other property have been vandalized.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com