As final-year students in Senior High and Technical Schools across Ghana prepare to sit for this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), a familiar wave of anxiety grips the nation. Beyond the usual academic pressure, there looms a more troubling concern, exam malpractice, particularly the persistent issue of teachers' involvement.
While the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has often been quick to attribute blame to students and teachers, many stakeholders argue that such accusations miss the mark. The critical question remains: how do confidential examination papers find their way into the public domain? Certainly, neither students nor teachers have access to the inner workings of WAEC’s printing and distribution systems. It is therefore imperative that the Council turns its lens inward, tightening its operational structures and ensuring greater accountability within its own ranks.
Equally concerning is the role of invigilators, largely teachers, who are entrusted with maintaining the integrity of the examination process. Reports of teachers assisting candidates during exams have sparked outrage, but a deeper examination reveals systemic issues. Chief among them is the issue of remuneration. Teachers who invigilate both the WASSCE and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) are often paid meagre allowances, despite the high-risk nature of the job. In recent years, there have been alarming reports of invigilators being threatened or even attacked by candidates for enforcing examination rules. Yet, compensation remains disproportionately low.
In such an environment, the temptation for financial inducement becomes a real threat. While this does not justify unethical conduct, it highlights a system that inadvertently creates fertile ground for malpractice. Fair and timely remuneration could serve as a deterrent, reinforcing professionalism and accountability among invigilators.
Another contentious factor is Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, introduced by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government. While the policy has undeniably expanded access to secondary education, critics argue that it has done so at the expense of quality. The absence of strict admission cut-off points has led to the mass enrollment of students, some of whom may not be academically prepared for the rigours of secondary education.
This, in turn, places undue pressure on both teachers and students, with some resorting to malpractice as a coping mechanism. The policy’s implementation has also raised concerns about the lack of academic retention standards, as underperforming students are often promoted regardless of their performance. The result is an education system that appears to prioritise quantity over quality.
Adding to the challenges is the issue of script marking. Examiners, who are also predominantly teachers, frequently work under substandard conditions. Disturbing accounts have emerged of scripts being marked in inappropriate environments, including drinking spots, raising serious questions about the credibility of the grading process. Without conducive and controlled marking environments, the reliability of results becomes questionable.
The cumulative effect of these issues poses a significant threat to the integrity of Ghana’s educational system. Certificates that were once held in high esteem risk losing their credibility both locally and internationally.
As Ghana strives to build a robust and reputable education system, stakeholders must confront these uncomfortable truths. WAEC must strengthen its internal controls to prevent leakages. The government must review and refine the Free SHS policy to balance access with quality. And above all, teachers, who remain the backbone of the system, must be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.
The future of Ghana’s education depends not just on access, but on integrity. Without urgent reforms, the WASSCE risks becoming a test not of knowledge, but of systemic failure.
The Trial News
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!