I have seen scores of parents protesting over withheld 2024 WASSCE results.

As I indicated last December, at least 80k candidates may not get one of their core subject results, truncating their tertiary transition this year.

The level of exam malpractice witnessed in fhe 2024 WASSCE was legendary and shameful.

In 2023, the malpractice rate was 10%. Based on WAEC’s 2024 WASSCE preliminary report, I expect the figure to hit 12-15%.

I urge WAEC to continue to strictly enforce the standards and rules without fear or favour.

Sadly, i acknowledge that some of the candidates with results withheld may be innocent. However, we must allow WAEC to complete its investigations, bearing in mind that the number of suspected cases of exam malpractice in the 2024 WASSCE is very huge.

Eduwatch estimates about 160k cases withheld for investigation in Integrated Science and Core Math alone.

While unfortunate, parents must invest more efforts in advising their wards against paying cash to evil-minded teachers in return for exam room cheating.

You see, those evil-minded teachers have cashed out; and the candidates are gnashing their teeth against an uncertain future.

Ask yourself: What if beyond withholding or cancelling your results, you are banned by WAEC?

I conclude with these immediate recommendations which aren’t new. Others have been well documented in successive Eduwatch and WAEC reports which MoE and GES are aware of:

1. In every exam hall where the entire subject results are cancelled without a prior report from supervisors, all invigilators and supervisors must be sanctioned/dismissed. For private schools, WAEC must close down that centre.

Without their collusion, the massive cheating would be impossible. The last time i checked, over 300 schools were involved here. The MoE, GES, NaSIA and WAEC must convene on this matter.

2. The Minister of Education should instruct the GES D-G and GESC to amend the GES Code of Conduct for staff, and make the sanctions for participating in examination malpractice an outright dismissal.

3. The Minister of Education should consider establishing an independent office of complaints under the MoE, where complaints about abuse of candidates rights can be investigated independently.

WAEC cannot continue to investigate itself; especially when candidates have issues with alleged unfair treatment by WAEC officials.

Apart from the high cost of litigation, the courts take too long to deliver any real justice.

Parents, MoE, GES, our inaction on exam malpractice today will have repercussions on the future of our children and human capital tomorrow.

Yesterday’s tomorrow is today!