Examinations play a critical role in assessing the academic progress and readiness of students in Ghana. The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), both administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), are two of the most significant exams in the country. Unfortunately, over the years, these exams have been plagued by various forms of malpractice, with schools, invigilators, and even students finding ways to circumvent the rules.
Despite WAEC’s efforts to curb exam malpractices, the strategies employed by some schools to cheat remain a challenge. In this article, we explore the methods used by schools to compromise the integrity of these exams and suggest actionable steps that WAEC and other stakeholders can take to address the problem.
The Widespread Nature of Exam Malpractice
Every year, schools across Ghana prepare their students for BECE and WASSCE. While most schools adhere to the rules and regulations, a significant number of institutions engage in unethical practices to ensure their students achieve high grades. These schools often turn their exam centers into hubs of malpractice, where invigilators, security personnel, and even some WAEC officials are influenced to look the other way.
Schools that serve as WAEC exam centers are uniquely positioned to manipulate the examination process. By creating an environment conducive to cheating, they undermine the credibility of the exams and compromise the future of the students who genuinely deserve to excel.
How Schools Collaborate to Cheat
Schools often work together to facilitate cheating during BECE and WASSCE. Here’s a closer look at how this collaboration unfolds:
1. Pre-Exam Meetings and Agreements
Prior to the exams, schools that will share a common exam center may hold meetings to strategize on how to influence the examination process. These meetings often involve school administrators, teachers, and sometimes even external facilitators who specialize in orchestrating exam malpractice.
2. Financial Contributions
One of the primary tactics used is the collection of money from students or their parents. Each student may be asked to contribute a specific amount, which is pooled together and used to “take care” of invigilators, supervisors, and security personnel. These funds are often used to provide meals, drinks, or even transportation allowances to the exam officials.
3. Influencing Exam Officials
The provision of meals and transportation allowances may seem like harmless gestures, but they are often designed to compromise the integrity of the invigilators and supervisors. Once these officials feel obligated to the schools, they may turn a blind eye to instances of cheating or even actively assist students during the exams.
4. Coordinated Cheating During Exams
With compromised officials in place, schools can implement various cheating strategies during the exams. These include:
Sharing Answers: Students may be allowed to share answers with one another during the examination.
Smuggling Cheat Sheets: Invigilators may permit students to bring in cheat sheets or allow teachers to distribute answers during the exam.
Access to Question Papers: In some cases, question papers with pre-written answers may be circulated among students before or during the exam.
The Impact of Cheating
The widespread malpractice in BECE and WASSCE has far-reaching consequences:
Undermining Meritocracy: Cheating diminishes the value of hard work and honest effort. Students who cheat may achieve high grades without truly mastering the subject matter, while diligent students are unfairly disadvantaged.
Decreased Credibility: If exam malpractice continues unchecked, the credibility of WAEC-administered exams will be eroded, both locally and internationally. This could affect students’ chances of gaining admission to reputable institutions or securing scholarships.
Ethical Decline: Cheating fosters a culture of dishonesty, which can extend beyond academics to other areas of life. Students who cheat in exams may carry this unethical behavior into their future careers.
What WAEC Can Do to Curb Cheating
WAEC has a critical role to play in addressing exam malpractice. Here are some recommendations:
1. Enhance Invigilator Welfare
WAEC should provide adequate transportation and feeding allowances to invigilators during the examination period. This support should be separate from their regular remuneration to reduce the likelihood of them accepting bribes from schools.
2. Strengthen Monitoring and Supervision
WAEC must deploy independent supervisors to monitor exam centers, especially those with a history of malpractice. These supervisors should be well-trained and empowered to report any irregularities without fear of reprisal.
3. Educate and Train Invigilators
Invigilators must be educated on the importance of upholding ethical standards during exams. Regular training sessions should emphasize the long-term consequences of malpractice and the need to maintain the integrity of the examination process.
4. Enforce Strict Penalties
Schools found guilty of engaging in exam malpractice should face severe penalties, including being barred from serving as exam centers in the future. Similarly, students caught cheating should be disqualified from the examination and face disciplinary action.
5. Encourage Whistleblowing
WAEC should establish a confidential whistleblowing system that allows students, teachers, and other stakeholders to report instances of malpractice without fear of victimization. Whistleblowers should be protected and rewarded for their contributions to maintaining the integrity of the exams.
The Role of Schools, Teachers, and Parents
While WAEC has a significant role to play, other stakeholders must also take responsibility:
Schools: School administrators must prioritize integrity over results and create a culture that discourages cheating.
Teachers: Teachers should prepare students adequately for the exams and discourage them from relying on unethical means to succeed.
Parents: Parents must instill ethical values in their children and resist the temptation to contribute to financial schemes that facilitate cheating.
A Collective Responsibility
Ensuring the credibility of BECE and WASSCE is a collective responsibility. Schools, teachers, parents, students, and WAEC must work together to eliminate exam malpractice and uphold the integrity of these critical examinations. By doing so, we can ensure that academic success in Ghana is based on merit, hard work, and ethical behavior.
Do you have any suggestions on how to combat exam malpractice in Ghana? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. Together, we can protect the future of education in our country.
