The Ministry of Education has renewed its warning against cheating in the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Misconduct was reported on the first day of the exams across the nation. The examinations are scheduled to run until May 11.
On May 6, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, cautioned all participants. This includes students, teachers, and examination officials. They must follow the examination rules closely. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) recorded seven cases of malpractice. These involved teachers and invigilators in the Central, Bono, and Ashanti regions. The Ministry finds this development troubling and has restated its firm stance.
The Ministry believes that individuals involved in malpractice are enemies of the state. They will be dealt with harshly. Candidates caught cheating risk having their results cancelled. This applies even if they possess unauthorized materials or collude with others. Teachers, invigilators, and school leaders who support or ignore cheating face serious consequences. These can include dismissal, interdiction, or prosecution. The Ministry stated that professional misconduct during national exams will not be excused.
This crackdown is part of a larger effort to protect the integrity of national examinations. Malpractice will not be tolerated. Last year, 40 individuals were caught for examination malpractice. Eight of them have already been convicted and sentenced. Courts are still processing 32 other cases from the previous year. Those convicted have lost their jobs. Their names will be removed from the Ghana Education Service payroll. The Ministry urged potential offenders to learn from last year's outcomes.
To improve monitoring, the Ministry is working with the Ghana Education Service. The Ghana Education Service is a vital state institution. It oversees basic and secondary education. WAEC and security agencies are also collaborating. They have put in place strict supervision measures. These measures cover all 2,303 examination centers nationwide. Any attempt to compromise the integrity of the 2026 BECE will face immediate and severe sanctions. The Ministry wished all candidates success in their exams.