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 head of 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 rampant among the blind students,, said it could be that the candidates were usually not well equipped individually for
the 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 blind
candidates before being exposed to major external examination,”
she said.

Speaking on the need for urgent policy reviews in education, the
WAEC official said a situation where a teacher who studied Special
Education in higher institution is employed to cater for the needs
of 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 attention
on one-on-one basis.

“If we intend to give the best and all-inclusive education, Federal
Government must employ more trained teachers in special
education to take care of the different defects among the physically
challenged students.

“There must also be consciousness policy formulation that will
take care of these persons.

“This is because there is ability in disability. These persons can do better if adequate care is given.”

Naij