2020 WASSCE Science questions leak on social media; WAEC says it's 'fake'

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Aug - 01 - 2020 , 22:30 3 minutes read

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has reacted to reports on social media that questions on some of the yet to be written 2020 examination papers at the Senior High School (SHS) level has leaked.

According to WAEC, its attention has been drawn to the “circulation of several fake versions of the Integrated Science 1 & 2 Papers to be administered on 3rd August, 2020 on social media platforms.”

“The Council wishes to allay the fears of all stakeholders especially candidates about the alleged leakage of the Papers."

It said a "scrutiny of the images being shared on social media indicates once again, the activities of certain individuals mainly operators of rogue websites and WhatsApp groups aimed at leading candidates astray and discrediting the Council,” a statement signed and issued on Saturday night [August 1, 2020] by the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, Mrs Agnes Teye-Cudjoe said.

It said the Council was very vigilant and has alerted the BNI, CID and the National Security about the threats posed by "these groups."

“The Council assures all its stakeholders that it has put in place all the necessary measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2020,” it added.

Meanwhile, the Council urged all candidates “to stay focused, continue with their preparation for the examination and comply with the COVID-19 protocols in order to keep safe during the period.”

While appreciating the interest shown in this year’s WASSCE for school candidates, the Council wishes to caution all stakeholders to be circumspect in putting out information on the examinations, it added.

Gov’t accusation

On social media, some people had accused the government of deliberately taking undue advantage of some head teachers to circulate the yet-to-be-written WASCCE papers to students as an agenda to ensure that the first batch of the free Senior High School (SHS) students pass the exams “massively”.

The proponents of the allegation said the government was behind the leakage and circulation of the papers and also alleged that some head teachers of various senior high schools were being used by the government to facilitate this activity.

They subsequently attached some of the papers they said were in their possession to their posts on social media.

Below is a copy of the statement issued by WAEC

Meanwhile, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has also reacted to what it said was the "accompanying twist to the effect that the paper has been leaked deliberately to ensure that the candidates pass the examination."

In a statement dated August 1, 2020, signed and issued by the Head of Public Relations Unit of the GES, Cassandra Twum Ampofo, the GES recalled that "the purported leakage of examination questions has become an annual ritual and should be seen in that light and therefore should not allow themselves to be deceived by propagandist seeking to achieve some mischievous objectives."

Below is a copy of the GES's statement