The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has confirmed the arrest of five individuals for examination malpractice in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) across the country.
WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, said the suspects were picked up for various irregularities, although full details are yet to be disclosed.
He noted that the names and specifics of the offences will be made public after investigations are completed.
Mr Kapi acknowledged that despite strengthened supervision and invigilation, cases of malpractice continue to occur. He said the council has introduced additional measures to curb the trend, including intensive briefing sessions for examination officials such as district directors and invigilators to reinforce the importance of integrity.
He added that WAEC is also engaging key stakeholders—including education directors, traditional leaders, politicians, and opinion leaders—to help discourage malpractice.
Describing the practice as harmful, Mr Kapi stressed that examination malpractice undermines the country’s development and the future of education.
To enhance monitoring, WAEC has deployed more personnel nationwide, including staff from its headquarters in Accra and regional offices, to closely supervise the conduct of the exams and minimize irregularities.