The recent court rulings that have fined and sentenced invigilators involved in examination malpractice are welcome developments.
They serve as a strong deterrent and reaffirm the integrity of our examination system.
Working conditions
However, this should also prompt the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to take a closer look at the working conditions of invigilators.
It is important to note that invigilators are not paid their invigilation allowances immediately after the examinations.
There is no provision for feeding, and in some cases, invigilators rely on the goodwill of school proprietors for meals.
Often, the transportation and travel (T&T) component, which is paid by the GES, also delays—sometimes by as long as one year.
The remuneration itself is modest, ranging between GH¢150 and GH¢200.
To access these allowances, invigilators frequently have to travel to district education offices and, in many instances, are unsuccessful on their first visit.
By the time the allowance is paid, the cost of transportation alone has eroded its value, raising the question of whether it was worth the effort.
Root causes
This has made it increasingly difficult to recruit teachers to serve as invigilators, particularly since unions have emphasised that teachers do not need to take up this role.
While it is commendable that corrupt practices are being penalised, it is equally important to address the root causes.
Improving the remuneration, timeliness of payments, and general welfare of invigilators is a more sustainable way to strengthen the integrity of our examinations, rather than relying solely on punitive measures.
If invigilators are starved of basic support, the system will continue to breed shortcuts.
By pairing prompt and decent remuneration with stringent accountability tools, WAEC and GES can turn invigilation from a reluctant chore into a respected civic duty.
Integrity in examinations is not secured only in courtrooms—it is cemented in classrooms and exam halls where teachers feel valued, not victimised.
Let us, therefore, uphold fairness alongside firmness, ensuring that every honest invigilator becomes an unshakeable ally in the fight against malpractice.
The writer is the Ga East Municipal Education PRO
