WASSCE invigilators fined, others remanded – WAEC

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has warned that all invigilators involved in infractions during the just-ended West African Examination Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) will be held accountable in accordance with the law.

The exam, which commenced on Monday, August 5, 2024, with the administration of Visual Arts project work, concluded on Friday, September 20, 2024, and recorded incidents of exam malpractice.

According to WAEC, the reported breaches include the distribution of answers to candidates, the smuggling of mobile phones into examination halls by both candidates and teachers, as well as the use of projectors and boards to display answers for students to copy.

Head of Public Relations at WAEC, John Kapi, says some invigilators have already faced fines, while others await legal proceedings.

He added that investigations are ongoing, and anyone found culpable will face legal consequences.

“Once we pick up a mobile phone from you, it is an obvious infraction and with that, we cancel the entire results. With those that had the answers projected on the board, it was stopped but you cannot stop the candidate from writing the exam at that particular moment. With those who ran away, we asked the heads of the schools to produce them.”

“Every other teacher who was picked up was handed over to the police. Some have had their cases already adjudicated. They have been charged. Some have paid fines. Others still have their cases in court. Others were remanded, a number of them. For the teachers, immediately they were reported but for the candidates, they are usually allowed to finish their exam and after that, we investigate what happened,” he said.

Additionally, WAEC expressed its gratitude to stakeholders who reported attempts by certain institutions to cheat during the examination.

The Council reiterated its commitment to conducting credible and fair examinations at all levels, despite the challenges encountered.