BECE 2025: WAEC Shares Areas Flagged as Exam Cheating Hotspots

• The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has shared the regions it considers as examination cheating hotspots
• The council has called for stricter oversight and collaboration among educational stakeholders
• WAEC indicated that 603,328 candidates, made up of 297,250 males and 306,078 females, are registered for the upcoming BECE

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has identified areas it considers to be examination malpractice hotspots.

The council has raised concerns over a surge in examination malpractice, with urgent calls for stricter oversight and collaboration among educational stakeholders.

Speaking at a stakeholders' forum, WAEC warned about the impact of the cheating on its credibility.

Daniel Nii Dodoo, Head of Humanities at WAEC's Test Division, said data from recent years point to a growing concentration of malpractices in certain regions.

"Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions had the highest number of candidates with malpractice cases —18,504 in 2023. These are critical areas requiring immediate attention, given their rising trend in malpractice involvement."

While emphasising that the regional data is not meant to stigmatise, WAEC insists it would inform targeted interventions and improve examination oversight in identified hotspots.

The Ashanti Region was also named as an area of growing concern.

The Council warned that the integrity of Ghana's education system is at stake, and that failure to curb the trend could result in long-term consequences, including international scepticism over the authenticity of Ghanaian academic credentials.

WAEC is now calling for enhanced cooperation from the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, school heads, and local authorities to strengthen supervision and enforce strict compliance with examination regulations.

The Council insists that immediate and collaborative actions are necessary to restore public confidence.

About the 2025 BECE

WAEC indicated that 603,328 candidates, made up of 297,250 males and 306,078 females, are registered for the upcoming BECE.

These students are from 20,395 participating schools. This figure is up from the 2024 entry figure of 569,236.

The council also noted in a statement that 1,661 private candidates, comprising 858 males and 803 females, will sit the exam this year.

The examination for school candidates will take place at 2,237 centres across the country, while 15 centres will be used for the BECE for private candidates.

Source: YEN.com.gh