BECE: WAEC Sounds Alarm Over Social Media Exam Leaks

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is raising red flags over the rising misuse of social media platforms to facilitate examination malpractice, especially in the ongoing 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

Speaking in an interview on Friday, June 13, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, warned that platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram are being exploited to share leaked questions and coordinate cheating among candidates.

“Social media has created a bigger problem than we anticipated. While it has its benefits, it’s now a major tool for undermining the integrity of exams,” Kapi said, highlighting how the ease of access through mobile phones has made malpractice harder to control.

This troubling trend of digital leaks and organized cheating rings has pushed WAEC to ramp up its security and monitoring measures ahead of this year’s BECE. Mr. Kapi stressed that the Council is actively reviewing its systems to tackle these tech-enabled threats.

His comments come amid growing public concern about the credibility of national exams and the increasing sophistication of cheating tactics in the digital age.

On a more positive note, Mr. Kapi confirmed that the government has already released over 50% of the funding required for the smooth execution of the 2025 BECE. He expressed confidence that the remaining funds will arrive in time to ensure a hitch-free process.

Additionally, he noted that the exam schedule has been adjusted to accommodate the upcoming Muslim festival and to gradually align Ghana’s academic calendar with the May-June cycle used by other WAEC member countries.

WAEC remains committed to protecting the integrity of the BECE and the educational futures of thousands of students nationwide.