BECE malpractice: Education Ministry considers publishing identity of adult exam cheats
The Ministry of Education says it is considering publishing the identity of adults caught in examination malpractice during the just-ended Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
“We appreciate the public's call for publishing all adults caught engaging in examination malpractices in the just-ended BECE, a proposal being considered,” a statement signed by the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, said.
It said 43 teachers who have been arrested for exam malpractice in the BECE would face the full rigours of the law.
2026 WASSCE
It cautioned all stakeholders in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates (SC) to be guided and persons found culpable will not be spared.
“The ministry, therefore, calls on parents, teachers, school authorities, security agencies and all stakeholders to support efforts aimed at protecting the integrity of the examination process,” it emphasised.
The Ministry of Education extended its warmest wishes to all final-year students across the country as they commenced this year’s May-June WASSCE-SC.
It said candidates are urged to remain calm, focused and disciplined throughout the examination period.
“Students must believe in their abilities and trust the preparation they have received over the years.
“At the same time, the Ministry of Education wishes to issue a strong caution against examination malpractice in all its forms.
The government fully supports the efforts of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and all relevant stakeholders to safeguard the credibility and integrity of the WASSCE-SC,” a statement signed by the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, said.
Cheating
It said candidates were reminded that involvement in any form of cheating could result in serious consequences, including cancellation of papers, disqualification and possible legal sanctions.
It said no examination result was worth jeopardising one’s future for.
The ministry also issued a firm warning to invigilators, supervisors, teachers, school officials and any external persons who might attempt to assist candidates in examination malpractice.
Examination fraud, it said, remained a major threat to the integrity of Ghana’s educational system and must not be tolerated.
Law
“Any individual found aiding, facilitating or engaging in examination malpractice will be dealt with in accordance with the law. The government and WAEC remain committed to ensuring that the examination process is conducted in a peaceful, credible and transparent manner across the country,” it said.
A total of 509,862 candidates, comprising 225,274 boys and 284,588 girls from 1,020 schools, are expected to sit for the examinations across the country.
The number shows an increase of 48,126 (10.4%) over last year's figure of 461,736.
The examination is being conducted at 1,017 centres.
Return
Final-year senior high school (SHS) students from Ghana officially rejoin their West African counterparts this year to sit for the May-June WASSCE-SC, after five years of writing the Ghana Only Version.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced member countries of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to shift the WASSCE-SC from May-June to July 20 to September 5, 2020, while in 2021, the examination was administered from August 16 to October 8.
After 2021, all WAEC member countries, including Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia, made efforts to streamline their academic calendars to align with the May-June calendar.
The theory aspect of the WASSCE-SC began last Wednesday with Oral English.
It began with the practical sessions and project work for candidates in Visual Arts and Home Economics.
