Eduwatch calls for stakeholder involvement to police 2022 WASSCE

Mr Kofi Asare, Executive Director of the Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has called for an increase in stakeholder collaboration to curb examination fraud and malpractices to ensure that the Ghanaian pre-tertiary assessment system conforms to international standards as students gets ready for the upcoming 2022 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Mr. Asare noted that based on the achievements in the 2021 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), the Ministry of Education (MoE) should engage the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) once again to oversee the printing and distribution of WASSCE 2022 papers.

He said curbing examination fraud and malpractice was a collective responsibility of all stakeholders including parents, students, school authorities, West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), MoE, Ghana Education Service (GES), Civil Society Organizations, Police and other Justice Sector Institutions.

Mr Asare stated in a paper copied to the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema, stressing that it was necessary to engage the public, especially stakeholders three weeks to the commencement of WASSCE 20202 on implantation progress and measures instituted to ensure a fair and credible examination.

The Eduwatch Executive Director however commended MoE and the NIB for the joint measures which protected the integrity of the 2021 BECE.

He said through the deployment of NIB officials who provided 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,” Mr. Asare, stated.

Mr. Asare noted the commitments made by MoE and WAEC for serializing questions, strengthening external invigilation, initiating legal reforms to criminalize examination n malpractices and enhancing the security features of question packs.

He added that as a result of the external security arrangement involving the NIB, aside the police personnel stationed at WAEC, there was no leakage of BECE papers in 202.

The Education Think Tanks also called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to intervene to expedite action on various WASSCE 2021 examination fraud complaints and petitions.

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.