The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the successful completion of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, 2024.

The Council’s official press release, signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Mr. John K. Kapi, provided an overview of the examination process, including participation statistics, general observations, and concerns regarding examination irregularities.

“The examination which started on Monday, August 5, 2024 with the administration of Visual Art Project work ended on Friday, September 20, 2024.
“A total of 460,611 candidates made up of 212,954 males and 247,657 females, presented by 1,003 participating schools registered for the examination. The examination was administrated at 1,000 centres across the country.”
Mr. John K. Kapi, Head of Public Affairs

The Visual Art Project, which kicked off the six-week examination, was followed by various subjects ranging from core academic subjects like English and Mathematics to elective courses.

The diversity of subjects offered ensured that students from different educational backgrounds had an opportunity to demonstrate their learning and competence.

Mr. Kapi in the press release noted that WAEC, in collaboration with other state agencies, deployed robust monitoring systems across all examination centres in the country.

He indicated that staff of the Council, along with monitoring agents recruited by WAEC, personnel from the National Intelligence Bureau, Ghana Police Service, National Security, the Ghana Education Service (GES), and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), were involved in overseeing the examination process.

Mr. Kapi commended the efforts of many Supervisors, and Invigilators, who complied with the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the examination. “Most candidates adhered to the dos and don’ts communicated to them during the sensitisation period prior to the examination,” He stated.

WAEC had earlier implemented sensitization campaigns to educate candidates on the “Dos and Don’ts” of the examination process. This initiative was aimed at curbing potential irregularities and maintaining the credibility of the WASSCE, which serves as a critical qualification for tertiary education across West Africa.

Examination Irregularities and Infractions

Despite these extensive efforts to ensure smooth administration, WAEC noted that inspectors encountered several instances of examination malpractices and irregularities.

“Some of the infractions recorded include: photocopying of answers and distribution of same to candidates; hiding of foreign material on candidates in the examination halls; smuggling of Mobile Phones into the examination halls by candidates and teachers.”
Mr. John K. Kapi, Head of Public Affairs

More egregious acts were also recorded, such as teachers and invigilators writing answers on boards for candidates to copy, and in some cases, projectors were used to display answers to the entire hall.

Additionally, candidates used mobile phones to take snapshots of examination questions, which were then posted on social media platforms in an attempt to cheat.

The Council, in its press release, strongly condemned these activities and reaffirmed its commitment to addressing these irregularities. WAEC vowed to take strict disciplinary measures against all individuals found guilty of compromising the integrity of the examination.

The Council noted that the guilty parties would be sanctioned in line with the provisions outlined in WAEC’s regulations for examination conduct.

In response to the infractions, WAEC has reiterated its commitment to upholding the sanctity and credibility of its examinations despite the challenges posed by examination malpractices.

“The Council wishes to express its sincere gratitude to all stakeholders who blew the whistle on a number of institutions who planned to cheat during the examination and to reiterate its commitment to the conduct of credible examination at all levels despite the challenges.”
Mr. John K. Kapi, Head of Public Affairs

As the nation awaits the release of the examination results, many are hoping that this year’s WASSCE will provide a fair and accurate measure of students’ academic achievements.

The success of this year’s exam could potentially pave the way for smoother transitions to higher education and career opportunities for thousands of young Ghanaians.