PRESS BRIEFING

INTRODUCTION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AS A SUBJECT IN THE GHANA COMMERCIAL EXAMINATION SCHEME

RENAMING OF THE GHANA COMMERCIAL EXAMINATION AS A GENERAL AND ADVANCED BUSINESS CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

I. INTRODUCTION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) AS A SUBJECT IN THE GHANA COMMERCIAL EXAMINATION

As part of its mandate the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is expected to conduct examinations required in the public interest and award certificates accordingly.
In response to modern trends of development, WAEC has decided to introduce Information Technology (IT) as a subject into the Ghana Commercial Examinations scheme with the first examinations conducted in June 2000.

The aim of WAEC in the development of the syllabuses and the conduct of the examination in IT is to use its time tested procedures in Test Development and Test Administration to standardise the examinations and the certificates in IT in the country.

The examination in IT is at both stages II and III of the Ghana Commercial Examinations. The examination has both theory and practical components and the scope covers such areas as Word Processing, Database Management, Spreadsheet E-mail, etc.

II. RE-NAMING OF GHANA COMMERCIAL EXAMINATIONS AS GENERAL AND ADVANCED BUSINESS CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS, EFFECTIVE 2001.

WAEC will like the general public to be aware of other changes that have taken place in the Ghana Commercial Examinations scheme.
The Ghana Commercial Examinations which was formerly called Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Examinations was later localised in 1990 and renamed Ghana Commercial Examinations when it became necessary for WAEC to adapt the examinations for local needs.
From the year 2001, the Stage II examinations will be called “The General Business Certificate Examination” while the Stage III will be named “The Advanced Business Certificate Examination.
These changes are in line with WAEC’s attempt to internationalised the examinations in member countries and make them more acceptable to the general public.
The Stage II subjects, which were equivalent to the GCE Ordinary Level subjects, have been upgraded to the SSSCE level. The upgraded syllabuses will be examined for the first time in the year 2001.
The subjects offered at both stages II and III include Information Technology, Marketing, Auditing, Secretarial Duties, Shorthand, Business Maths, Business Law, Business Communications etc.

Holders of our certificates in the General and Advanced Business Examinations would thus have the requisite skills and ability to function effectively in an employment environment and also enable them undertake further studies in other areas.

A Media Campaign organised by the Public Relation Department of the West Africa Examinations Council in all Regional radio stations of Ghana and the National Television Station of Ghana.( GTV- Breakfast Show)

This site is managed by:

Yaw Dankwa.
Public Relations Office
West African Examinations Council-Accra

e-mail: dankwagrams@yahoo.com

Last updated: 23-02-2001