12 Teachers arrested over 2021 BECE malpractice (Collecting money, solving questions et al)

Information reaching Ghanaeducation.org indicates that 12 teachers have been arrested over 2021 BECE malpractice on day one for the examination. The 12 arrested educators include 11 teachers and a headteacher.

The 12 were picked up at two examination centres in the Offinso Municipality in the Ashanti Region and the Senase R/C Basic School in Berekum in the Bono Region.

A source at WAEC informed Daily Graphic in an interview that at the Offinso Methodist JHS examination centre, a teacher of the Offinso State ‘A’ Junior High School (JHS) was allegedly caught collecting money from the candidates while distributing the Social Studies answer booklets.

According to the source, when the teacher was questioned, she admitted collecting the money but explained that the candidates decided to contribute the money to her for free. In an earlier publication before the start of the BECE, Ghanaeducation.org indicated that pupils, schools, teachers and headteachers sometimes compromise invigilators and supervisors by contributing money to be given to these WAEC officials for transportation and launch and that such acts breed cheating.

WAEC officials are of the view that money collected by the Offinso State ‘A’ Junior High School (JHS)  teacher was aimed at influencing the invigilator to enable the candidates to indulge in examination malpractice.

In the second case, also in the Offinso Municipality, nine teachers and a headteacher were arrested at the Dwamena Akenten M/A JHS examination centre after they were spotted desperately solving the objective part of the Social Studies paper in the morning. Mobile phones are not allowed in the exam centre but some students carry such illegal items into the examination hall to receive updates from syndicates. It will be prudent that, invigilators conduct unannounced sample checks.\

READ: Topics To Watch for BECE 2021 Examination -Subject by Subject

At the Senase R/C Basic School centre, Ransford Osei, an invigilator, was apprehended for allegedly taking shots of the Social Studies paper, which was being written in the morning, and sending the snapshots to a friend to solve for him.

READ: 90% of 2021 BECE candidates will get school placement – CSSPS

However, while Osei was being escorted by the police, he absconded. The 12 Teachers arrested over 2021 BECE malpractice are expected to be put before the court.

Source: Graphic