WAEC calls for CCTV cameras at ‘WASSCE’ centers to curb cheating

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), following an increase in cases of cheating among candidates, has called on the government to consider installing CCTV cameras in examination centers to curb exam malpractice.

In an interview monitored by Pretertiary.com, the Head of Public Relations at WAEC, John Kapi, said while his outfit has made significant efforts to sensitize students and stakeholders about the dangers of exam malpractice, installing cameras could be a crucial step in eradicating the practice.

Installing cameras should be one area we have to look at in order to make examination malpractice a thing of the past,’’ the spokesperson for the not-for-profit-making organization (WAEC) said in the interview with GTV.

Speaking on the GTV breakfast show, Kapi revealed that even though the organization has made several arrests, prosecuted offenders, and handed out custodial sentences and fines to those found guilty, the menace still lingers.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the West African Examinations Council added that the Ghana Education Service (GES) is prepared to take punitive action against teachers found complicit in examination malpractice.

“The Ghana Education Service (GES) is ready going forward to take punitive action against teachers found culpable in the malpractice,” the WAEC official, Mr John K Kap, told the host of the GTV breakfast show.

A total of 461,640 final-year Senior High School (SHS) students, representing 207,381 males and 254,259 females, are expected to participate in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School.

To be held at about 700 centres across the country, the management of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in a statement sighted by Pretertiary.com said this year’s candidature is slightly higher than the 2024 entry figure of 460,611.

In all, candidates from 701 Senior High Schools (SHSs) will be participating in the 2025 edition of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School at over 700 examination centres nationwide.

According to the West African Examinations Council, responsible for the conduct of the 2025 WASSCE for School candidates, each examination centre will be monitored by 701 supervisors, 1,391 assistant supervisors, and 15,391 invigilators.

This year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination marks the fourth year that Ghanaian students are writing the “Ghana Only” version of WASSCE, introduced to give the country full control over the examination calendar.

In other news, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it is tightening measures to curb examination malpractice as the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School progresses.

During a monitoring tour of some examination centres, the Head of National Office at WAEC, Dr Rosemond Wilson, explained that the recent rise in reported cases was due to stricter enforcement and closer surveillance.

“One invigilator was in possession of a mobile phone, and invigilators are not supposed to take mobile phones to the examination hall. So we have taken the matter up and we will deal with it,” the WAEC official said.

She added, “Actually, the mobile phone had a write-up. It had some of our questions for the previous exams they have written, like Picture Making and English Orals. It had some of those questions on it and also answers to the questions.”