West Africa Examination Council is a body that conduct the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination. The result is a proof that a student has completed a secondary school in Nigeria. The result is also necessary to gain admission into any higher institution in Nigeria, some other West African countries, some countries in Africa and some countries across the globe.

Therefore, a high value is placed on success in WASSCE. Some candidates use illegal and unethical means to pass. They are aided by these miracle examination centres” – special secondary schools that encourage such malpractices. These centres have institutionalised all kinds of malpractices to aid students in the school certificate examinations.

Some factors are responsible for this desperation to succeed in this examination.

Internal factors such as

• Pressure to meet targets: Schools feel compelled to achieve high pass rates, as a results of targets given to them by some owners, leading to malpractices.
• Lack of effective supervision: Inadequate monitoring allows malpractice to occur within centres.
• Inadequate teacher training: Teachers may not be adequately equipped to teach effectively.
• Poor student preparation: Some students are not sufficiently prepared for the exam.
• Corruption within schools: Some school administrators and teachers may collude in malpractices.

External Factors such as

• Societal pressure: High stakes placed on WASSCE lead to desperation.
• Parental influence: Some parents encourage cheating to ensure success.
• Economic factors: Poverty and limited opportunities drive students to seek shortcuts.
• Government policies: Inadequate funding, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of commitment to education sector.
• Cultural norms: Cheating has become a cultural norm in some communities.

Systemic Issues such as:

• Weak examination security: Insufficient measures to prevent examination malpractices.
• Inadequate sanctions: Lenient punishment for offenders.
• WAEC internal corruption:  Allegations of bribery and compromise among WASSC’Es officials.
• Inadequate resources: Insufficient funding for effective examination administration.

Examination malpractice in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has significant negative effects on Nigeria’s education system. Here are some key impacts:

• Erosion of Academic Integrity: Malpractice undermines the credibility and fairness of the examination process, leading to a loss of trust in the educational system
• Poor Quality of Graduates: Students who engage in malpractice often lack the necessary knowledge and skills, resulting in poorly prepared graduates who may struggle in higher education or the workforce
• Legal and Disciplinary Consequences: Students caught cheating face severe penalties, including cancellation of results, bans from future exams, and legal repercussions
• Moral Decadence: The prevalence of malpractice promotes a culture of dishonesty and corruption, affecting the moral fabric of society
• Economic Impact: The need to address and prevent malpractice incurs significant costs for educational institutions and the government

Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach, including stricter enforcement of examination regulations, better supervision, and promoting a culture of integrity among students and educators.

Thank you

Principal, Daystar College.