WAEC asked to stop setting recall exam questions for candidates

Africa Education Watch has called on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to desist from setting West African Senior School Certificate Examination and Basic Education Certificate Examination questions that require recall answers.

In a discussion with Univers News, the Executive Director of EduWatch, Kofi Asare suggested for the non-profit-making organization use what he termed, the ‘applied assessment method instead of the current recall assessment method.

Supported by the current curriculum used in government and private schools, he said the education sector since independence has been practising the recall assessment method which is negatively affecting students in the country.

“Because the assessment is based on recall, teachers teach students to recall and of course, that is supported by the existing curriculum in our schools at both basic and secondary levels,” the education think tank Director stated.

Asked what should be done to avoid the negative impact of the recall assessment method, Mr Kofi Asare said “it is important for us to reconsider the way we teach and by extension, the way we assess our students.”

The Watch Director added that “WAEC must move from over-relying on questions that require recall answers like the objective questions and the “what is” kind of questions, move from that and pay attention to assessment methods.”

He went on to further suggest that teachers in basic schools should pay attention to the strengths and interests of their students from primary 1 up to Junior High School 2 before their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).