The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has uncovered a pressing new trend in examination malpractice.
Candidates are resorting to desperate measures, concealing money and contact numbers in their answer booklets in a bid to influence their results.
Recent findings by WAEC reveal a significant surge in malpractice cases, a worrying escalation from 2% in 2021 to a staggering 10% in 2023. John Kapi, WAEC’s Head of Corporate Affairs, highlighted instances where candidates have inserted GHC50 or more along with requests such as “call me,” “help me,“ or “call my mom“ in their exam papers.
To combat this growing issue, WAEC has deployed personnel from the Ghana Education Service, Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Ghana Police Service, National Security, and National Intelligence Bureau. These personnel, with their respective expertise and responsibilities, are working together to closely monitor examinations and ensure the integrity of the process.
Rev. Victor Brew, WAEC’s Head of Legal Affairs, has strongly advocated for stricter penalties to deter malpractice. He proposes a significant increase in fines from GHC1,200 to GHC3,000 or higher, underlining the need for a strong deterrent.
WAEC has reported 19 cases of examination malpractice, resulting in four convictions. These convictions have led to [specific consequences], demonstrating the seriousness of the issue and the effectiveness of the legal actions taken. Investigations are ongoing for the remaining cases by the Ghana Police Service.
This year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is scheduled from July 8 to July 15, with an estimated 569,095 students expected to participate under heightened scrutiny.
