Leverage technology to curb examination malpractice – Dr. Apaak to WAEC

Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Apaak has urged the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to adopt artificial intelligence to tackle rising examination malpractice across the sub-region.

Dr. Apaak made the call at the 74th Annual Council Meeting of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in Accra, where education stakeholders from across the sub-region gathered to deliberate on key issues affecting examinations.

He stressed that maintaining the integrity of examinations is critical to ensuring fairness, merit, and credibility in educational systems, especially for high-stakes assessments such as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

“In the integration of technology in the conduct of the WASSCE examinations, the Council should explore ways to leverage artificial intelligence to curb examination malpractices,” he said.

According to him, examination malpractice continues to pose a serious threat to the credibility of assessment systems across West Africa and requires urgent and coordinated action by member states.

“I wish to encourage participants of the 74th Annual Council Meeting to rigorously discuss the issues of examination malpractices, which is increasingly becoming a threat to the integrity of examinations in the sub-region. It is important to maintain the integrity of these examinations,” Dr. Apaak added.

He noted that examinations go beyond selection for academic progression, serving as an important tool for shaping human capital and preparing students with the skills needed for national development.

Dr. Apaak reaffirmed the Ministry of Education’s commitment to supporting WAEC and related institutions in implementing measures aimed at protecting examination processes and upholding standards.

“As a ministry, we commit ourselves to support any intervention the WAEC 74th Annual Meeting will put in place towards securing the integrity of our examinations. Let us remember that integrity at the highest levels is essential for ensuring the same within the examination environments,” he stated.

He expressed optimism that discussions at the meeting would result in concrete reforms to address malpractice and strengthen examination systems across member countries.

“It is my hope that these insights would inform significant reforms within WAEC in this and the years ahead,” he noted.

The 74th WAEC Annual Council Meeting, being hosted in Accra, brings together representatives from The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone under the Council’s rotational arrangement to review policies and chart the way forward for the sub-regional assessment body.