According to an official of the West African Examinations
Council(WAEC), among blind candidates, one of the most
common examination malpractice was collusion.
Frances Iweha-Onukwu, who is the headof test
administration of WAEC in Nigeria, revealed this in a
press interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN),
on Wednesday, December 28, in Lagos.
Mrs Iweha-Onukwu explaining the reasons why cheating
by collusion was ramp@nt among the blind students,,
said it could be that the candidates were usually not well
equipped individually forthe examinations.
She described the performance of the students as ‘not
too wonderful performance’, rising from the fact that they
were poorly equipped.
“We have discovered that there is usually high incidence
of collusion among blind candidates during examinations.
“That is why their performance has not really been
anything wonderful.“
Our society is such that there have not been adequate
and conscious efforts to take care of the challenged.
“There have not been enough trained personnel to guide
blindcandidates before being exposed to major external
examination,”she said.
Speaking on the need for urgent policy reviews in
education, theWAEC official said a situation where a
teacher who studied Special Education in higher
institution is employed to cater for the needsof physically
challenged persons with a whole array of needs, was
worrisome.
Voicing her confusion, she said: “I cannot explain how
one teacher, who studied special education can be given
the singular task of meeting the academic needs of the
deaf, dumb, the blind and all others.“
Meanwhile, there are candidates who need personalize
attentionon one-on-one basis.
“If we intend to give the best and all-inclusive education,
Federal Government must employ more trained teachers
in specialeducation to take care of the different defects
among the physically challenged students.“
There must also be consciousness policy formulation that
willtake care of these persons.
“This is because there is ability in disability. These
persons can do better if adequate care is given."
