An educationist, Mr. Oppong Acheampong has appealed to the Ghana Education Service to strengthen the enforcement of its penalties against examination malpractices.
This, he said was necessary to stem the tide of the offences at the basic, secondary and the tertiary levels and improve the country's positive image in the conduct of examinations.
Mr. Oppong-Acheampong, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), in an interview at Bechem, in the Tano South District, in Brong-Ahafo region said past examinations had been characterized by "manipulations and cheatings" through the connivance of either some teachers or supervisors.
The result, he said, is the production of half-baked scholars.
He alleged that some teachers collected monies from pupils and students to influence invigilators and supervisors so that under the pretext of conducting mock examinations, the children would get fore-knowledge of the actual external examination questions.
Another method of cheating was the sending of answers to students at the examination halls by teachers through mobile phones, the educationist added.
Mr. Oppong-Acheampong said some circuit supervisors posted to remote areas that were inaccessible to external supervisors collect monies from head teachers to bribe invigilators to allow students to indulge in examination malpractices.