Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, has commended new measures introduced by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to safeguard the integrity of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), while stressing that their effectiveness will depend largely on proper implementation.
His comments follow the introduction of stricter measures by WAEC for the 2026 BECE, including a ban on mobile phones for both candidates and invigilators in examination halls to curb malpractice such as the sharing of questions on social media. Invigilators under investigation from previous exams have also been barred, while officials found aiding cheating risk sanctions, including confiscation of devices and possible prosecution.
The nationwide examination, which began on Monday, May 4, is being taken by about 620,000 candidates across the country and will run until May 11, with the council reiterating its firm stance against malpractice and urging strict compliance with its rules.
Speaking on New Day on TV3 on Monday, May 4, Mr. Asare noted that WAEC has, in recent years, demonstrated “significant will” in strengthening examination systems to prevent malpractice.
“I’m happy about the measures that WAEC has put in place… in the past three or four years, we’ve seen WAEC demonstrating significant will to put in place mechanisms to prevent cheating or strengthen exam assessment integrity,” he said.
He specifically welcomed the decision to bar invigilators from carrying mobile phones during examinations, describing it as a strategic move to disrupt common cheating methods.
“We know that the modus operandi… is normally to take a shot of the question paper and circulate it… If you prevent the shot of the question from being taken by an invigilator not having access to mobile phones, then you are trying to cut the flow from the base,” he explained.
According to him, such interventions directly target how examination questions are leaked and shared across networks, often involving individuals within exam centres.
While describing the directive as “commendable,” Mr. Asare cautioned that its success would depend on strict enforcement across all centres.
“99 percent of the decision rests with how it is implemented. If it is effectively implemented at all centres, then it should have an impact on integrity levels,” he stated.
He warned, however, that weak enforcement could undermine the policy, noting that WAEC’s limited physical presence at examination centres could pose challenges.
“If it becomes a directive that becomes difficult to implement… then it will remain an issue,” he added.
Mr. Asare also used the opportunity to encourage candidates sitting for the BECE, describing the exam as a placement tool rather than a high-stakes, “do or die” assessment, and urged students to focus on doing their best.
