The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued a strong appeal to stakeholders across the education sector to join forces in tackling the growing menace of examination malpractice, which the council says poses a serious threat to the credibility of academic assessments.

The call was made during a stakeholder engagement held in Ho, where WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. John K. Kapi, stressed the urgent need for collective action to safeguard the integrity of the examination system.

“Examination malpractice undermines the fairness of assessments, compromises the credibility of our educational system, and jeopardises the future of our students,” Mr. Kapi stated.

He urged all relevant parties — including schools, teachers, parents, students, and government agencies — to play an active role in combating the problem.

According to him, addressing the issue requires not only tighter security and monitoring but also a cultural shift that prioritises integrity and academic honesty.

Mr. Kapi also encouraged students to take their studies seriously and adequately prepare for upcoming examinations.

“You owe it to yourselves to learn and prepare well.

Cheating only robs you of a true sense of achievement and damages your future,” he advised.

Participants at the forum echoed similar concerns and urged WAEC to strengthen its internal systems.

They called on the council to invest in better security for examination materials and improve the training and compensation of invigilators to ensure effective supervision during exams.