The Upper West Regional Controller of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Donald Tuor, has raised the alarm over the involvement of teachers and supervisors in examination malpractice during the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Mr Tuor revealed that some teachers have been helping candidates cheat by solving exam questions and hiding them in the examination halls or pre-arranged locations for candidates to pick up.
He noted that several candidates had been caught with unauthorized materials, while others had swapped their question papers.
Method of Malpractice
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Tuor explained, “The teachers would hide in bushes, solve the questions, drop them in the examination halls for the candidates, or place them in toilets for the candidates to retrieve.” He added that the teachers already informed the candidates about where to find the solved questions. “The candidates know exactly when and where to go for them,” he stated.
Mr. Tuor expressed disappointment, mentioning that many supervisors and invigilators had been compromised and were assisting candidates in their cheating activities.
Handling Malpractice
Typically, when candidates are caught with foreign materials or found cheating, they are asked to fill out a form acknowledging the infraction, which is witnessed by the supervisor. After this, they are allowed to continue with the rest of the exam. For the teachers involved their names have been submitted to the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) for disciplinary action.
Other Incidents
While the examination has generally proceeded smoothly, there have been isolated incidents of cheating and swapping of question papers. Mr Tuor mentioned an unusual occurrence last Friday when a bee invasion at Wa School for the Deaf led to two candidates being stung and rushed to the hospital. One of the victims, a girl, was detained and unable to sit for the second paper, while the boy was treated and discharged.
