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El Samuels: MBN360
A recent report by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) reveals that the culture of cheating in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has reached alarming levels. Parents are accused of fueling this culture by pressuring their children to achieve good grades, regardless of academic integrity.
In recent years, the number of cheating cases in WASSCE has increased significantly. In 2024, a staggering 62,046 students, representing 13.6% of total candidates, were caught cheating. The Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions recorded the highest number of cheating cases, with 25,765 cases, followed by the Ashanti Region with 24,580 cases.
This cheating culture not only undermines academic integrity but also poses a threat to public safety. Students who cheat in WASSCE may lack the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their professional duties, putting lives at risk.
Dr. Asante warned that this mindset has become embedded in communities over time, encouraging candidates to rely on leaked questions or illegal assistance rather than building genuine academic competence.
“The integrity of WASSCE is one of the biggest challenges in the country. It has become so widespread that parents themselves have become major perpetrators, working through schools in certain areas to support students to cheat in order to pass their exams. There has to be active engagement with PTAs and the entire education system to reorient people on the importance of examination integrity,” he said.
CDD-Ghana is calling on parents, teachers, and stakeholders to take responsibility for promoting academic integrity and stopping the cheating culture. They are also urging the government to take stricter measures to address the issue.