2026 BECE: Malpractice culprits will be dealt with ruthlessly — Education Ministry

The Ministry of Education has warned that any individual caught engaging in examination malpractice in the ongoing 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will face severe sanctions.

The caution follows reports by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) about the arrest of seven individuals for engaging in malpractice on the first day of the exams.

A total of 620,141 candidates from 20,395 schools across the country began writing the exams on Monday, May 4 and is expected to end on May 11.

In a statement dated May 5, and signed by Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, the Ministry stressed that it will not tolerate any attempts to compromise the integrity of the examination.

“We are of the firm conviction that any individual complicit in examination malpractice is an enemy of the state and would be dealt with ruthlessly,” the statement read in part.

The Ministry further warned that candidates caught cheating will have their results cancelled, while teachers and invigilators involved could face dismissal, interdiction, and prosecution.

It added that eight offenders in the 2025 exams have already faced serious consequences, including convictions and job losses.

“Of the forty (40) persons caught involved in facilitating cheating last year, eight (8) have been convicted and sentenced, and thirty-two (32) are still being processed by the appropriate entities and courts,” the statement noted.

The Ministry said it has deployed strict monitoring measures across all examination centres in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service, WAEC and security agencies.