Pay Invigilators Well, Use Cameras’: Educationist Lists Five Solutions to Stop Exam Malpractice
An educationist Ɔpanyin Wireko, has urged the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to introduce stronger reforms to end examination malpractice in Ghana. His call comes in the wake of recent reports of suspected copy work involving some 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates who were invited by WAEC for questioning.
According to Ɔpanyin Wireko, examination malpractice is gradually eroding the credibility of Ghana’s education system and putting the future of students at risk. He stressed that if urgent measures are not put in place, the culture of cheating will continue to undermine fairness, merit, and the quality of education in the country.
In a detailed proposal to WAEC Headquarters in Accra, Ɔpanyin Wireko outlined five practical solutions that he believes can help curb the malpractice menace.
First, he called for better pay for invigilators, supervisors, and security officers deployed to examination centers. He argued that underpaid officials are more vulnerable to bribes from parents, candidates, and sometimes school authorities, which compromises the integrity of the process. Adequate remuneration, he said, would motivate them to carry out their duties diligently and resist undue influence.
Second, he recommended the installation of surveillance cameras in all examination halls, with real-time monitoring from WAEC’s headquarters in Accra. According to him, the presence of cameras will serve as a deterrent to candidates and teachers who may attempt to cheat, while also providing reliable evidence against offenders.
Third, Ɔpanyin Wireko urged WAEC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES), to reconsider the practice of grading and ranking schools based on examination results. He observed that the competition among schools to top performance charts exerts unnecessary pressure on students and teachers, often pushing them into engaging in malpractice just to secure higher rankings.
Fourth, he advised WAEC to stop candidates from writing examinations in their own schools. Instead, he suggested that students should be assigned to different centers away from their institutions. This, he explained, would reduce familiarity and the likelihood of school-based collusion during exams.
Finally, Ɔpanyin Wireko proposed the introduction of a WAEC uniform for invigilators and supervisors, similar to the attire worn by Electoral Commission staff during national elections. Such a measure, he explained, will make invigilators easily identifiable, prevent impersonation, and enhance accountability at the centers.
He stressed that these reforms, if implemented, would go a long way in restoring confidence in Ghana’s examination system and ensuring that students succeed based on merit rather than shortcuts.
“Examination malpractice destroys the very foundation of discipline and hard work in education. If we want to raise a generation of honest, hardworking leaders, then we must protect the integrity of our exams at all costs,” Ɔpanyin Wireko stated.
His proposals come at a time when many education stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and policymakers, have raised concerns about the rising trend of examination irregularities. The educationist’s call is expected to spark further discussions on how WAEC and the government can strengthen the country’s assessment systems to ensure fairness and credibility.
