EduWatch establishes ‘WASSCE Desk’ to fight 2023 WASSCE fraud

Africa Education Watch as part of efforts to support the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to end examination malpractice in this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination has established a WASSCE Desk.

The education think tank in a post sighted by AcademicWeek said the purpose of the WASSCE Desk is for members of the general public to report any suspicious activities they notice before or during the conduct of the WASSCE for School.

“EduWatch is supporting the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to end WASSCE fraud. If you see something unusual before or during the WASSCE, call our WASSCE Desk,” the think tank said.

Africa Education Watch’s (EduWatch) decision to support the not-for-profit making organization (WAEC) follows a partnership with OXFAM to monitor the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School.

“Eduwatch is monitoring WASSCE with the support of OXFAM and will continue collaborating with WAEC to improve accountability in the Education Assessment Sector,” the Executive Director of EduWatch, Kofi Asare said in 2021.

Slated to commence from July 31, 2023, through to September 26, 2023, more than 448,000 prospective final-year students from public and private Senior High Schools (SHSs) are expected to sit for the 2023 WASSCE for School.

Just like last year, Ghana this academic year will not write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School with other member countries of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) including Nigeria.

The Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum as the date for the 2023 WASSCE draws near has urged all final-year Senior High School (SHS) students to participate in the examination to refrain from examination malpractice.

Speaking to some students in the Ashanti Region, the Minister for Education said their involvement in malpractice or cheating would lead to the cancellation of their results and possibly truncate their education to ruin their future.

Encouraging the 2023 WASSCE candidates to prepare adequately for the exams, Adutwum said “Examination malpractices have caused great havoc to many people who have regretted in life, but they cannot change the hands of time”.

He reminded the examination candidates that the central government through the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme has invested in them hence the need for them to pass the WASSCE for School with flying colours.

“You are the future leaders who will hold responsible positions and that is why your parents and the government have invested much in your education. I am therefore begging you to do your best and pass the examination well but we will be disappointed if you fail us,” Adutwum told the candidates.