The Ghana Education Service (GES) has established four security posts in conflict-prone areas to ensure the safety of candidates taking part in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), which begins today, August 5, with practical sessions.
This development comes amid growing concerns from stakeholders in the education sector about the safety of students in volatile areas during the examination period.
Addressing these concerns in an interaction with the media, the Director-General of the GES, Professor Kofi Ohene Davis, indicated that the security measures are aimed at guaranteeing the smooth conduct of this year’s examinations.
“We are ensuring a strong security presence in the schools, so there will be no off days for students this year. All candidates will remain on campus under security protection until they complete their exams,” Prof. Davis stated. “Those who need to be escorted will be taken back to the safe communities they came from. We have four security posts—one in Nkwanta and three in the Northern Region.”
Professor Davis also expressed concern over the rising incidence of examination malpractices in schools across the country. He revealed that in the Ashanti Region alone, 76 out of 144 schools have been implicated in such practices—something he described as deeply troubling for the GES.
“No examination malpractice will be tolerated this year,” he warned. “The GES Council has empowered us to dismiss individuals and supervisors found complicit in any form of cheating.”
This year’s WASSCE will see candidates sitting for 65 subjects, with each student expected to write a minimum of eight.
The GES says it is working closely with security agencies and examination supervisors to uphold the integrity of the exams and ensure the safety and well-being of all candidates.
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Story by Sika Togoh|univers.ug.edu.gh
