WAEC receives syndicate cheating in schools report on ongoing 2022 WASSCE

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it has followed a number of issues emerging from the conduct of the Ghana only examination, which is currently ongoing.

It said it has received reports of infringements of the rules and regulations governing the ongoing examination in the areas of impersonation, smuggling of mobile phones into examination halls by candidates, restriction of access to school compounds for monitoring purposes and syndicate cheating in schools.

WAEC in a statement dated September 2, 2022, signed and issued by the Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Agnes Teye-Cudjoe said it was “working closely with the Ghana Education Service, the National Intelligence Bureau and other security operatives to check infringements of the rules and regulations governing the ongoing examination.”

“Some hot spots have been identified and monitoring of these centres has been intensified,” it added.

It has therefore urged all stakeholders to collaborate with it to safeguard the integrity of the examination.

Below is a copy of the statement

CONDUCT OF THE WEST AFRICAN SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION (WASSCE) FOR SCHOOL CANDIDATES, 2022 – EMERGING ISSUES

The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (Ghana only version), enters its fifth week with the conduct of two core papers, Social Studies and English Language to be administered on 5th and 8th September, 2022 respectively.

The Council wishes to bring to the attention of stakeholders and members of the public, a number of issues which are emerging from the conduct of the examination.

1. Restriction of Access to School Compounds for Monitoring Purposes

Reports reaching the Council indicate that some school authorities have adopted the practice of locking their school gates during the examination period with the aim of preventing WAEC Inspectors and Monitors from gaining access into their school compounds to monitor the examination.

School authorities, especially those engaged in this act, are directed to desist from the practice as such activities amount to acts of examination irregularities.

2. Smuggling of Mobile Phones into Examination Halls by Candidates

A number of candidates have been caught with mobile phones in examination halls.

Candidates are reminded that their entire results will be cancelled when they are caught with mobile phones in the examination halls. The Council wishes to call upon School Authorities, Supervisors, Invigilators, parents and guardians to ensure that candidates abide by this rule.

Supervisors and Invigilators are also being reminded of the ban on their use of mobile phones at examination centres.

3. Impersonation

Impersonation cases, which hitherto were not being recorded in school examinations are on the increase. Some impersonators have been arrested in
the ongoing examination and are in the grips of the law.

Supervisors are directed to deploy the use of the Biometric Verification Device (Vericheck) to identify candidates.

4. Syndicate Cheating in Schools

Intelligence has been received of some school authorities collecting monies from candidates and organising syndicate cheating in their schools.

Perpetrators of these acts are being cautioned to desist from same.

The Council has the mandate to de-recognise schools caught engaging in this malpractice.

Candidates identified as having colluded would have their results cancelled.

The Council is working closely with the Ghana Education Service, the National Intelligence Bureau and other security operatives to check infringements of the rules
and regulations governing the ongoing examination.

Some hot spots have been identified and monitoring of these centres has been intensified.

The Council urges all stakeholders to collaborate with it to safeguard the integrity of the examination.