MoE reacts to claim 2023/24 WASSCE candidates cheated in exams

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has described as baseless and false an allegation by former President John Mahama that Senior High School students who sat for the 2023 WASSCE cheated in the International examination.

The Education Ministry’s comment comes after the NDC flagbearer candidate challenged the authenticity of the 2023 WASSCE results; alleging that some invigilators relax on the job so teachers can aid students in answering questions.

MoE also said the claim by the leading National Democratic Congress (NDC) member is a calculated attempt to downplay the great strides made by the leadership of the Ministry in improving learning outcomes in the country.

“We have made monumental progress in core subjects from an average 40.93 per cent score (A1 –C6) in 2015 to a highly improved average of 69.73 per cent score (A1 – C6) in 2023,” the Ministry of Education said in a statement.

Again, the Ministry of in Charge of Education noted that the country had recorded the highest ever West African Senior School Certificate Examination 8A1s in 2020 and 2023 with Ghana boasting 411 out of the 465 8A1s recorded across West Africa.

The Ministry led by Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum described the former President’s assertion as a false misrepresentation of the facts which only seeks to malign “the integrity of the vast majority of our hard-working teachers and students.”

It, therefore, has called on all well-meaning Ghanaians to condemn former President, John Dramani Mahama’s allegation while pledging its commitment to upholding the highest quality of education in the country.

“The Ministry reiterates our commitment that the quality of education and examinations at all levels, including the WASSCE will not be compromised,” the Education Ministry press statement sighted by Thisterm.com added.

A total of 447,204 candidates, made up of 211,834 males and 235,370 females drawn from 975 public and private Senior High Schools entered for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School.

This figure indicates an increase of 5.8% compared to the 2022 entry figure of 422,883. The WASSCE took place at 834 centres. A total of 60 subjects, comprising 4 core and 56 electives were made available to candidates to choose from.

The 2023 edition of the WASSCE for School Candidates commenced on Monday, July 31, 2023, with the Visual Art Project work. The international examination administered at 834 examination centres ended on September 26, 2023.