The Ghana Education Service (GES) has intensified efforts to combat examination malpractice in the Upper East Region ahead of this year’s West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), as stakeholders rally to ensure a credible and incident-free examination process.
The renewed commitment was underscored during a high-level stakeholder engagement held at Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School, where education authorities, heads of second-cycle institutions, teacher unions, and media practitioners met to discuss strategies for safeguarding the integrity of the examinations.
Addressing participants at the meeting, Richard Ayettey, National Examination Coordinator at the GES headquarters in Accra, issued a strong warning against all forms of examination malpractice.
According to him, the Ghana Education Service will apply strict sanctions to any individual found culpable, regardless of their status or role in the examination process.
“No one will be spared if caught engaging in examination malpractice, whether a student, teacher, or examination officer. All offenders will be dealt with according to the law,” he stated.
Ayettey stressed that the Upper East Region’s target this year is to record a completely malpractice-free WASSCE. He encouraged candidates to remain focused on their studies and avoid any temptation to engage in dishonest practices during the examinations.
He noted that examination malpractice not only undermines the credibility of certificates but also weakens the country’s educational standards and national development efforts.
The Upper East Regional Director of GES, Razak Abdul Korah, assured stakeholders that adequate preparations had been made to ensure the successful conduct of the examinations across the region.
According to him, examination materials, security arrangements, invigilation systems, and supervision mechanisms have all been carefully coordinated to guarantee transparency and credibility throughout the examination period.
“We are ready for the exams. Everything from materials to security has been carefully arranged to ensure credibility and transparency,” he affirmed.
Abdul Korah further advised Senior High School students to place confidence in their preparation, discipline, and hard work rather than resorting to fraudulent means.
He reiterated the region’s determination to set a positive example by recording zero cases of examination malpractice during this year’s WASSCE.
The stakeholder engagement formed part of a broader nationwide campaign by the Ghana Education Service aimed at creating awareness about the consequences of examination malpractice while promoting ethical conduct within Ghana’s educational system.
Several key educational stakeholders participated in the engagement, including the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS), Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), and teacher unions.
Participants at the meeting underscored the importance of collaboration among schools, parents, security agencies, and examination officials in maintaining the integrity of the WASSCE and protecting the credibility of Ghana’s education system.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo| Prosper Adankai
