The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has revealed that teachers and parents have failed in getting students ready and prepared for examinations, leading to examination malpractices.
According to WAEC, students who engage in examination malpractices are influenced by poor preparation ahead of the exam, the negative influence of teachers and the poor support they get from their parents.
This revelation comes in the wake of WAEC’s invitation to over 1400 students by WAEC to assist in investigations into suspected mass cheating.
Teachers in particular have been identified by WAEC as the conduit through which students are emboldened to cheat. “It’s disappointing and shameful to see teachers and invigilators involved in examination malpractice.” These are the words of John K. Kapi (Head of Public Affairs Department, WAEC), who spoke on the issue.
From all indications, the integrity of Ghana’s BECE is once again under intense scrutiny, as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has withheld the results of over 1,400 candidates from the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The reason is they are suspected to have engaged in mass cheating and widespread examination malpractice, a crisis that threatens the very foundation of the nation’s educational framework. As WAEC delves deeper into its investigation, startling revelations from officials and observers paint a grim picture of a systemic problem involving teachers, invigilators, and desperate students.
John K. Kapi, the Head of the Public Affairs Department, WAEC, has made some worrying revelations as to how students cheat. He revealed that “Some students tie materials around their heads with bandages in order to cheat during exams.”
He could not understand why students who fail examinations are shy to retake the exam. “Students shouldn’t be shy to rewrite a failed paper.” He stated.
Teachers and Invigilators: Guardians Turned Accomplices
The most damning aspect of this year’s scandal is the alleged deep involvement of the very individuals entrusted to safeguard the examination process. John K. Kapi, the Head of the Public Affairs Department at WAEC, did not mince words, expressing his profound disappointment.
This isn’t just rhetoric. WAEC has moved beyond condemnation to action, confirming that the council has actively pursued and apprehended those culpable. “We [WAEC] have traced and arrested several teachers and invigilators involved in examination malpractice,” the council stated, signalling a zero-tolerance policy for this professional misconduct. The involvement of educators transforms simple cheating into an organised, syndicated crime against the country’s future.
A Failure Before the Exam?
While the focus is on malpractice during the exams, some argue the problem starts much earlier. A critical observation points to a fundamental gap in student preparation. The sentiment that “one of the things we are missing now is teachers’ inability to properly orient students for examinations” suggests a failure in the classroom long before students enter the exam hall.
When students are not adequately prepared, taught examination techniques, or mentally conditioned for the rigours of a high-stakes test like the BECE, fear and desperation can take root. This lack of proper orientation may inadvertently push students towards seeking illegal shortcuts, creating fertile ground for malpractice to thrive.
The Desperate Measures of Students
The pressure to succeed at all costs has driven students to employ increasingly audacious methods to cheat. Reports have emerged of bizarre and creative tactics, highlighting a complete disregard for rules. One such method reveals the extent of their desperation: “Some students tie materials around their heads with bandages in order to cheat during exams.”
This imagery is a powerful symbol of a system under strain, where the fear of failure outweighs the value of genuine learning and personal integrity. It begs the question: what are we teaching our children about success and ethics?
A Path Forward: Destigmatizing Failure
Amid the crisis, WAEC is also trying to shift the narrative from one of pure punishment to one of reform. Mr Kapi offered a crucial piece of advice aimed at tackling the root cause of desperation: the stigma of failure.
This statement is a call to change our cultural perception of academic setbacks. By encouraging students to see failing a paper not as a final judgement but as an opportunity to learn and try again, we can reduce the immense pressure that fuels the desire to cheat. Promoting avenues like the private BECE for resits is a practical step in this direction, offering a legitimate second chance.
The 2025 BECE scandal is a painful wake-up call. Tackling this menace requires more than just arresting a few bad actors. It demands a collective effort to restore integrity by holding educators accountable, fundamentally improving student preparation, and fostering a culture where knowledge is valued more than a pass mark. The future of over 1,400 students hangs in the balance, but so does the credibility of Ghana’s entire education system.