The Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has called on the ministry of education to engage the National Bureau of Intelligence (NIB) to oversee the printing and distribution of exam papers in the WASSCE 2022.

According to Eduwatch, ahead of the three weeks to the commencement of WASSCE 2022, it is necessary to engage the general and stakeholder public on implementation progress and measures instituted to ensure a fair and credible WASSCE 2022. It indicated that it has observed other commitments made by the MoE and WAEC, including serializing questions, strengthening “external invigilation, initiating legal reforms to criminalize examination malpractices, and enhancing the security features of question packs”.

“The MoE should engage the NIB to oversee the printing and distribution of WASSCE 2022 papers. The Inspector General of Police should intervene to expedite action on the various WASSCE 2021 examination fraud complaints and petitions.
Africa Education Watch

Additionally, Eduwatch expressed the need for the ministry of education and WAEC to convene a stakeholder meeting to discuss progress in implementing post-WASSCE 2021 commitments and various stakeholder roles in ensuring a fair and credible WASSCE 2022.

“The Parliamentary Select Committee on Education must take a keen interest in the implementation progress of commitments made by the Police, MoE, WAEC, and GES at its convening in Koforidua on October 21, 2021, as we approach WASSCE 2022.”
Africa Education Watch

Similarly, Eduwatch called for increased stakeholder collaboration to curb examination fraud and malpractices. This, it explained, will ensure the Ghanaian pre-tertiary assessment system conforms to international standards.

“Curbing examination fraud and malpractice is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders, including parents, students, school authorities, WAEC, MoE, GES, Civil Society Organizations, the Ghana Police Service, and other Justice Sector Institutions.”
Africa Education Watch

WASSCE examination malpractices

Eduwatch recounted that in September 2021, it published the WASSCE 2021 Monitoring Report which unearthed widespread examination fraud and malpractices through the leakage, sales, and foreknowledge of some questions on social media. It noted that ahead of the scheduled examinations, there was collusion between external invigilators and some school authorities to facilitate cheating.

“Eduwatch subsequently participated in a convening by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education to engage the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Ghana Police Service, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and other stakeholders, which led to commitments to improve accountability and questions security in subsequent examinations.”
Africa Education Watch

According to Eduwatch, almost ten months after the stakeholder engagement on its report, and one month to the commencement of WASSCE 2022, Eduwatch emphasized that there is the need to make some statement in respect of progress. It expressed that consequent to its WASSCE 2021 report and engagement, the MoE initiated some immediate measures to strengthen questions security in the 2021 Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE), which included the deployment of NIB officials to provide security during the questions printing and distribution process.

“We note that, as a result of the external security arrangement involving the NIB, aside the Police personnel stationed at WAEC, there was no leakage of the BECE papers. We commend the MoE and the NIB for their collaboration to improve questions security.”
Africa Education Watch