2025 BECE: Supervisor, Student Nurse Among 10 Arrested for Cheating

The 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which commenced on Wednesday, June 11 with over 600,000 students participating nationwide, has already seen 10 individuals arrested for engaging in various forms of examination malpractice, according to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, revealed in an interview that all 10 suspects have been handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

These offenses, which are considered criminal under WAEC regulations, range from impersonation and collusion to the possession and distribution of unauthorized materials.

One of the most alarming incidents involved a supervisor who was caught with a mobile phone containing images of exam papers, which he had allegedly circulated on social media. Furthermore, six invigilators were also found with mobile devices holding snapshots of the exam questions.

In a bizarre twist, a woman who identified herself as a fashion designer was apprehended with photocopied answers, apparently intended for distribution to candidates. Also among those arrested were a student nurse and a private school administrator.

WAEC swiftly moved to apprehend individuals attempting to solve exam questions and pass them to students in real time. Mr. Kapi indicated that investigations are ongoing, with additional reports expected from other examination centres.

To combat these recurring issues, WAEC has collaborated with the National Investigations Bureau (NIB), especially in regions identified as malpractice-prone. The Ghana Education Service (GES) has also deployed monitoring teams across exam centres to ensure stricter enforcement of the rules.

“We believe that our increased vigilance and presence on the ground will serve as a strong deterrent,” Mr. Kapi concluded.