Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum Urges Government to Tackle Exam Malpractice with Technology and Policy Reforms.
His comments come at a time when public concern about academic dishonesty is growing, especially following recent disciplinary actions taken against several students at the University of Ghana for engaging in examination misconduct.
Speaking in an interview, Dr. Adutwum reflected on the efforts made during his tenure under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration to minimize malpractice, particularly at the basic education level. While acknowledging the strides made in reducing question leakages and cheating, he admitted that fully eradicating the problem remains a significant challenge.
“We made substantial progress during our time, especially with the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE),” he said. “Introducing different sets of questions for students helped to tackle the issue of leakages. However, despite these improvements, we still face widespread cheating within the examination halls.”
Dr. Adutwum stressed that tackling malpractice requires continuous innovation and investment in modern solutions. He recommended that the government support the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) with resources to develop serialized question papers tailored to individual candidates. This, he believes, would make it more difficult for candidates to collaborate or cheat during exams.
“The real challenge now lies in what happens inside the examination room. If we’re serious about eliminating malpractice, then WAEC must be empowered to digitize its processes and introduce question variation on a large scale. That’s where government support becomes vital,” he emphasized.
He also noted that while efforts to reduce question leaks have been somewhat successful, there is an urgent need to address collusion between candidates, invigilators, and in some cases, school authorities. According to him, this can only be done through a combination of technology, strict monitoring, and long-term policy reforms.
His remarks follow national conversations sparked by the disciplinary measures taken against students at one of the country's top universities, which brought renewed attention to the integrity of Ghana’s examination system. The incident has underscored the importance of securing both the content and conduct of national assessments.
Dr. Adutwum concluded by urging the government not to relent in its efforts to reform the country’s examination framework. He argued that sustained investment in digital tools, secure testing environments, and teacher and invigilator accountability systems will be key to protecting the credibility of Ghana’s education sector in the years to come.
“Without embracing technological solutions and committing to systemic reforms, examination malpractice will remain an obstacle to fairness and academic excellence,” he warned.
The call from the former minister adds to the growing chorus of voices demanding urgent and lasting solutions to one of the most persistent problems in Ghana’s education landscape.
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