Visually impaired candidates often collude during examinations, says WAEC

Visually impaired candidates often collude during examinations and their performance has “not really been wonderful”, says the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

Frances Iweha-Onukwu, head of test administration of WAEC Nigeria, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.

Physically challenged people do not get adequate resources and attention to meet their special needs, hence their below par performance, Iweha-Onukwu said.

“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.

“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 personalised attention on one-on-one basis. If we intend to give the best and all-inclusive education, the 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 in 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.”