Addressing Examination Malpractices and Teacher Accountability in Ghana

The Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, has raised concerns about the prevalence of cheating in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the role of teachers in such malpractices. As reported, a teacher caught aiding students in cheating is now serving as an assistant headmaster.

Kofi Asare emphasizes the need for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to operate independently from the Ghana Education Service (GES) and its staff. He asserts that the involvement of teachers who instructed the students in conducting examinations contributes to challenges like cheating. In a recent interview on Joy FM, Mr. Asare shared an instance of a teacher caught on video assisting students during an exam, who is now an assistant headmaster in another school.

He points out that despite efforts by the Ministry of Education to curb malpractices, some supervisors and teachers collaborate to help students cheat during exams. Mr. Asare suggests that for WAEC to ensure independence and reduce malpractices, it should adopt international best practices. One such recommendation is the use of third-party entities with no vested interest in the examination outcomes.

According to Mr. Asare, this approach would prevent conflicts of interest and minimize corruption risks associated with teachers examining their own students. Additionally, he calls for the dismissal of teachers involved in examination malpractices, stating that current sanctions under the Code of Conduct for Teachers are insufficient.

Mr. Asare highlights the urgent need for the GES to elevate sanctions, making it a high-risk proposition for teachers engaged in examination fraud. He emphasizes that without a change in the system deployed by WAEC, the existing problems will persist.

In the background, recent announcements by the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, proclaiming the best WASSCE results since 2015, have faced challenges to their authenticity. Former President John Mahama, while on the “Building Ghana Tour,” expressed concerns about teachers aiding students in cheating, indicating potential repercussions for the country’s educational system. He emphasized that certifying students with compromised qualifications could have adverse consequences when they pursue further education abroad.

The ongoing discourse raises important questions about the integrity of examinations, teacher accountability, and the need for comprehensive reforms in the Ghanaian education system.

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