The usual 'rumours' of examination malpractices at Legon
The Executive Committee of the Academic Board of University of Ghana, Legon, has
set up another committee to investigate 'rumours' and media reports of the usual
examination practices in end-of-semester examinations at the
University.
"The Executive Committee has ordered thorough investigation of all the
complaints and reports about examination malpractice," a statement signed in
Accra by A.T. Konu, the Registrar, said.
The committee will of course be under the chairmanship of an insider - a former
Academic Registrar and will report to the University on 28 January.
"The Executive Committee wishes to assure students, parents and the general
public that it will deal in a very err... decisive way with any person or persons found
to have compromised the integrity of the University's examination process".
The statement noted that there had been rumours and reports circulating on the
University Campus and in the media alleging various forms of malpractice
including leakages of examination questions during the end-of-semester
examinations.
"The Committee took serious view of these rumours and complaints as they strike
at the very core of the University's hard earned reputation and its integrity as
a self-examining institution."
Update 18-03-2005
Legon Students Demand Further Probe
A section of students of the University of Ghana
is calling for further investigations into activities of a syndicate involved in
exam paper racketeering.
A committee set up to investigate exams malpractice at the country’s premier
university revealed that most exam papers written in the first semester
examinations of the 2004/2005 academic year were leaked, tracing most of the
leakages to Kwadwo Tabiri Asenso-Okyere, son of the vice chancellor.
This was the reaction of an Arts student when he became aware he would have to
re-sit a paper as a result of yet another cancellation.
“ I am not writing that paper, we are not writing the paper, we will not write
it, that’s it.” (nach, after paying good money or other consideration if female,
for the answers - Ed.)
Many students shared similar sentiments and could not fathom writing the same
paper several times over.
They questioned why the university authorities were failing to tackle the root
cause of the problem.
The students making up my focus group were unanimous that the phenomenon of exam
leakage was widespread.
“The leakages are widespread because almost everyone on this campus know that
the papers leak.”
Some blamed exam malpractices on the expectations and demands made on them
saying they were too high.
“For the science student they are picking 150 out of the 500 to go to med school
and you need a very good grade point average to make it, if I can get the paper
this way, why not do it and get into medical school”
That the son of the University’s Vice-chancellor was implicated in the exam
paper racket did not surprise my respondents.
Yet they argued he was being used as the sacrificial lamb. “ I know he was part
of it but his name was not on the list so when I heard that his name was
mentioned, I said to myself, that boy should be dealt”
As to the steps taken by the university authorities the comments from the
students suggested they had very little confidence in them.
“ I think if this thing should be probed further through the departments, check
the grades, we will see a lot of anomalies in the grades if the answer booklets
were compared with that of the grade.”
modify or else
Update 27-03-2005 : Sorry
Mr. Kpessa, but when the Legon culture changes,
then pigs
will probably commence unaided flight. To quote you : "It has
always been suspected that" the University staff "have been manipulating the
system for selfish and material benefits.... For those who have been following
the records" of "Legon, the current scandals came
as no surprise; it is just that the cup was full and had to overflow...."
this time under the spotlight of internet media. When
delivery of free education as an unencumbered gift, is obstructed by top office
holders unless and until they are bribed to accept it, in keeping with the
other customary encumbrances of 'aid' that render it subversive of indigenous
development, how can you expect the system in which they are embedded not be
incorrigibly sociopathic? Unfortunately, as has been proven by action research,
the only effective remedy when dysfunction is deeply
embedded, is abolition and space for a replacement to evolve by its bootstraps,
free from acquired and cultivated 'aid' dependence.
The number one (product of generations of 'aid') economic activity in African
societies is corrupt parasitism of one's neighbours and comrades in misfortune.
The culture/practice is too deeply societally embedded to be redeemable, for
as long as there is a person-to-person / eye-to-eye transaction, or a physical
asset that can be hijacked by a Customs official or roadblock policeman (both
desperate to feed their dependants it should be added).
Given that physical natural resources are effectively lost because hijacked
by neo-colonialism backed up by overwhelming military might when necessary, is
the transfer/exchange of internet protocol intelligent system mediated value,
'the way' for Africa's people? We are all born naked and equipped with nothing
more than potential as fully developed people.
Think about it! It isn't more than two decades since there was scoffing in
Accra at the idea that a third world country could leapfrog over 'the North' by
recognising 'weakness' (absence of infrastructural impediments to development)
as a developmental asset. Africa's establishment scoffed while India's
establishment grasped the opportunity with both hands by investing in education,
education, education (the real variety as distinct from the Legon variety).
Infosys, Infosys, Infosys
World Bank 2005
Bush Appoints Bloodthirsty Psychopath
to head World Bank - painting 'aid' in its true colours is going to much easier with
the delightful Woolfowitz as its boss.
16-03-05
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