The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has confirmed the arrest of five invigilators involved in examination malpractice during the ongoing 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The arrests took place in the Ashanti and Bono regions, where the invigilators were found to be engaging in activities that compromised the integrity of the exams.
It will be recalled that in a press briefing last Friday, WAEC disclosed that it had deployed independently recruited monitors and collaborated with national security agencies, including the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), to oversee the examination process.
This proactive measure led to the detection of irregularities at various exam centers.
Speaking in an interview with an Accra-based television station on Monday, Mr. John Kapi, Director of Public Affairs for WAEC, provided details of the incidents.
He explained that in the Bono region, invigilators were caught with mobile phones in the examination hall, which is against WAEC regulations.
These phones were used to take snapshots of ongoing exam papers and post them on a WhatsApp platform set up for distributing the leaked content.
The phones were confiscated, and the invigilators were immediately handed over to the police.
The NIB also apprehended three additional invigilators in a nearby municipality who were found with materials containing answers to the exam questions being written by candidates at that time.
WAEC emphasized its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the examination process.
The agency is working closely with the police to ensure that the invigilators face the full force of the law.
The confiscated phones are being used as evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Reports of students being asked to remove their belts and shoes before entering the exam hall have surfaced, raising concerns among candidates and parents.
However, Mr. Kapi clarified that WAEC has no specific rules regarding dress code beyond requiring that candidates do not carry any foreign materials into the examination hall.
He suggested that such measures might have been taken by individual schools or exam centers as a precautionary step.
An official from the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) urged the public not to jump to conclusions and emphasized the importance of verifying the reasons behind such actions.
The officer stressed the need for cooperation and understanding to prevent any misinformation that could cause unnecessary panic.
WAEC’s swift action in addressing examination malpractice highlights its dedication to upholding high standards in the education system.
The Council reassures the public that it will continue to monitor the situation closely and take all necessary steps to ensure the integrity of the BECE.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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