The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has taken disciplinary action against thousands of candidates who sat for the 2024 West African Senior High School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Ghana. In a decisive move to uphold the integrity of its assessments, WAEC has canceled the subject results of 4,108 candidates and withheld results for hundreds more due to examination malpractices.
Details of the Sanctions
- Subject Results Cancellations
WAEC canceled the subject results of 4,108 candidates who were found guilty of bringing foreign materials, such as prepared notes, textbooks, and printed content, into the examination halls. - Complete Results Cancellations
The entire results of 483 candidates have been voided due to the possession of mobile phones during the exams, a violation of examination rules. - Withheld Results
- Subject results for 781 candidates have been withheld pending further investigations.
- The complete results of 209 candidates have also been withheld for other alleged offences.
In addition, the council is investigating cases of alleged collusion involving candidates from 319 schools across the country.
Statement from WAEC
The actions were announced in a press release issued by WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John K. Kapi, following the 37th meeting of the Ghana Examination Committee held on December 16, 2024. WAEC emphasized its commitment to maintaining the credibility of the WASSCE and highlighted that these measures were necessary to deter future malpractices.
Examination Overview
The 2024 WASSCE recorded the participation of 460,611 candidates, consisting of 212,954 males and 247,657 females, from 1,003 secondary schools across Ghana. This marked a 2.66% increase in candidate numbers compared to the 2023 figure of 448,674 candidates. However, the exams were marred by the reported malpractices that have now led to disciplinary actions.
Historical Context
In 2023, WAEC faced a similar situation when 4,609 registered candidates failed to appear for the exams. The council has consistently taken strict actions against examination malpractices to uphold the standards of its assessments.
Conclusion
WAEC’s decision underscores its dedication to promoting fairness and maintaining the reputation of the WASSCE. As investigations into the withheld results continue, the council has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on examination malpractices, urging all stakeholders to support efforts aimed at fostering academic integrity.