WAEC introduces measures to tackle exam malpractices

Annual rotation and award systems for centre invigilators, stricter measures and the use of advanced technology are some of the recommendations proposed by the West African examination council to curb exam malpractices. These were made known at the maiden stakeholders’ dialogue in Accra on examination malpractices. Examination plays an important role in determining achievements and certifying attainment.

But WAEC says examination malpractices among students are increasing at an alarming rate. According to the exam body, a lot of these malpractices are detected by markers. The Deputy Director of the Institute of Education at the University of Cape coast, Prof. Jonathan Fletcher underscored the need to deal with malpractices.

A Deputy Minister of Education for pre-tertiary education, Alex Kyeremeh said the Ministry would support the the fight against exam malpractices. He said that although educational standards were not falling, it is nowhere near the expectations of the ministry. But in what appears to be a name and shame approach by WAEC, the Brong Ahafo region was ranked first out of the ten regions of the country with the highest cases of mass cheating in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for 2014.

In the Brong Ahafo region alone, about 4,000 students were caught cheating in last year’s Senior High Schools final examinations. Having a negligible number of five breaking the examination's rules and regulations, the Upper West Region placed last in the scheme of cheaters.

Head of International Examinations Department of the West African Examinations Council, Nii Christian Johnsons described as alarming, the rate of cheating in Ghanaian schools over the past five years. The council in 2009 recorded 2,373 cases of malpractices.

In 2011 the figure jumped to 4,201, and 2012 recorded 3,439 incidences. Also students caught cheating in 2013 stood at 5,653, while in 2014 the entire country recorded a total of 8,051 of exam malpractices, of which 4,000 came from one region.

According to Nii Johnsons, the situation is worrying because these students were aided in their ignoble act by teachers and police personnel who ironically were supposed to supervise a cheating-free examinations at the centers.

On the way forward, the Council has given approval for the closure of the Obuasi centre for WASSCE private candidates, owing to the persistent mass cheating there over the years.