The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) says it has put 11 schools under surveillance after receiving information that the institutions intend to cheat in the ongoing West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). 

Speaking to the press on Wednesday, the Head of Test Administration Division, George Ohene-Mante, said the schools are being closely monitored for evidence to validate those claims.

He stated that the Council would scrutinise scripts of schools where cheating had been reported.

“Where mass cheating is established in centres, the appropriate sanctions would be applied. We would continue tracking rogue websites and social media cartels in collaborations with security agencies,” he added.

The schools include Ejisu Senior High Technical School, Anlo-Afiadenyigba Senior High School (SHS), Tepa SHS, Yeji Senior High Technical school, King David College, Somanya, and Ideal College, Sunyani.

The rest are Christ the King SHS, Obuasi, Modern SHS, Kpong, Modern SHS, Kintampo, Oyoko Methodist SHS, and Klo Agogo SHS.

This follows confirmation by WAEC that two papers have been compromised in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

The Council says its investigations have uncovered that extracts of the 2021 Elective Mathematics and English Language tests had been found in the public domain.

The Council also rescheduled Physics 2 and 1 and Business Management 2 and 1 papers in the ongoing WASSCE for candidates.

“A new date for the scheduled papers will be communicated in due course,” George Ohene-Mantey, Head of Test Administration Division, WAEC, said at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday.

Following the confirmation Policy think tank, Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has petitioned the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the circumstances leading to the leakage of papers for the 2020 WASSCE.

According to the Executive Director, Kofi Asare, his institution has gathered evidence that, when investigated, could help the examination body and government strengthen their quality of assessment by including security and also enhance their credibility.

Meanwhile, Mr Asare has applauded WAEC for its readiness to monitor the schools it cited for alleged malpractices and to change external invigilators to some schools where they have noted malpractices occurring.

He added that Eduwatch’s monitoring in 100 schools has shown that in about 53, there is no level of invigilation taking place, or in others, invigilators are compromised both internal and external.

Mr Asare said Eduwatch is ready to provide WAEC with their list, so the action could also extend there.