The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has confirmed the arrest of ten invigilators for allegedly engaging in examination malpractice during the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
According to WAEC, the arrested individuals reportedly took snapshots of examination papers and forwarded them to third parties for assistance in solving the questions. The suspects have been handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The breakdown of the arrests indicates that one invigilator was picked up in the Greater Accra Region, six in the Bono East Region, one in the Ashanti Region, and two in the Bono Region.
Speaking to journalists after a monitoring tour of some BECE centres in Accra, the Head of WAEC’s National Office, Dr. Rosemond Wilson, acknowledged the generally smooth conduct of the exams so far. However, she expressed concern over the misconduct by some invigilators and emphasized that WAEC is taking firm steps to address the situation.
“We are working to ensure the exams are free from malpractice. The Ghana Education Service has advised all invigilators and supervisors to strictly adhere to examination protocols and maintain integrity throughout the process,” Dr. Wilson stated.
She noted that other suspected cases of malpractice are under investigation and reiterated that WAEC has implemented security measures to curb such incidents. Among these measures is the directive that district directors of education and supervisors deliver the question papers directly to examination halls and prevent any unauthorized handling or photography of the papers.
During her visit, Dr. Wilson toured several BECE centres in Accra, including the Accra High School, Ring Road East Basic 1, and the Kanda Estate 3 & 5 Basic School centres.
She assured the public that the arrested invigilators would face appropriate disciplinary procedures in line with WAEC’s regulations and would also be reported to the Ghana Education Service.
Dr. Wilson also advised candidates to remain focused and avoid any attempts at cheating, noting that the examination questions are based strictly on the approved syllabus and should be within the students’ capabilities.
“Supervisors are briefed thoroughly and are expected to pass that on to the invigilators. We encourage everyone involved to take their responsibilities seriously to ensure a smooth and fair examination process,” she added.
She concluded by expressing satisfaction with the calm and organized environment at the centres she visited. “The students appeared confident and prepared. It was clear that many had studied well and were engaged with the questions in a relaxed atmosphere.”
