An official monitoring exercise of the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) centres in Accra on Monday, August 25, revealed a suspected case of examination malpractice.
The Head of the National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Dr. Rosemond Wilson, made the discovery during a visit to Forces Senior High Technical School at Burma Camp.
According to reports, an invigilator at the centre was found with a mobile phone containing questions for papers, including Picture Making and Oral English. Suspicion was first raised after the officer was seen improperly dressed, which in itself violated examination rules.
WAEC regulations clearly forbid supervisors and invigilators from possessing mobile phones or any unauthorised materials within examination halls, and such breaches are considered criminal under the WAEC Act.
Following the incident, officials confiscated the device and directed the invigilator to submit a written statement explaining the circumstances. A full-scale investigation is expected to determine the source of the questions and whether the invigilator is linked to a wider malpractice network.
The administration of the school has been asked to cooperate fully with the inquiry.
Exam fraud continues to be a major challenge for the education sector. A 2024 report by Africa Education Watch described malpractice as one of the biggest threats to the credibility of the WASSCE certificate and the quality of students entering tertiary education.
WAEC has since reassured the public of its determination to work with law enforcement agencies to root out examination malpractice and prosecute offenders.
Meanwhile, the first core subject, Social Studies, is scheduled to be written today.
