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The Africa Education Watch (EduWatch) organization has urged the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to expedite legal proceedings against individuals who were arrested due to misconduct during the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). In a statement issued on Monday, EduWatch expressed appreciation for the collaboration between WAEC and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to enhance exam security. However, EduWatch pointed out that there were still security breaches, resulting in the premature circulation of exam questions on social media platforms. They called for swift prosecution of those involved, with outcomes made public.
EduWatch also raised concerns about school heads or owners who prevented monitors from entering exam centers in real time, urging the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the National Schools Inspectorate Authority to impose sanctions on them, with the outcomes being made public.
Furthermore, EduWatch stressed the need for the Ministry of Education to allocate resources to WAEC for the recruitment of additional Non-GES External Supervisors at every exam center for every paper.
In terms of teacher misconduct, EduWatch recommended that the GES escalate sanctions to include outright dismissal for teachers who engage in examination malpractices and fraud. They believe this would send a strong ethical message against staff participation in such activities.
Additionally, EduWatch called on the government to amend the WAEC Law, as the current sanctions outlined in the law are considered outdated. They highlighted that the evolving nature of examination malpractice and fraud requires a more responsive legal framework for credible examinations. EduWatch emphasized the importance of prioritizing the amendment of the WAEC Law by the Ministry of Education.
