Hon. John Kwame Adu Jack, Member of Parliament for Dormaa Central, expressed deep concern over the increasing occurrence of examination malpractice in Ghana’s educational system. He attributed the significant increase in these unethical practices in examination malpractice to the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy, which was introduced by the previous government.
Drawing on research from Headmasters of various Senior High Schools (SHS), Hon. John Jack revealed that the current system appears to assume that all students are expected to pass. He explained that no student is held back or fails during their three years of secondary education, regardless of their actual academic performance. This system, he argued, contributes to a culture where students are able to move on to the next stage without proper evaluation, fostering an environment where malpractice can flourish.
Hon. John Jack called for a thorough review of the FSHS policy, suggesting that it should be revised to ensure that only students who meet the necessary academic requirements are allowed to progress. He emphasized that students who fail exams should not be promoted, a measure he believes would help tackle the rising widespread of examination malpractice in senior high schools.
The Dormaa Central Legislature also pointed out that the problem of examination malpractice is not limited to students alone, but also involves supervisors. He proposed that stringent punishment or penalties should be imposed on exam supervisors who fail to carry out their duties effectively. He noted that if students are caught cheating, it is assumed that the exam supervisors are also culpable for not properly overseeing the process.
Hon. Jack’s statements were made in response to a motion raised by Hon. Bright Asamoah Brefo, the Member of Parliament for Bibiani-Anhwiaso- Bekwai who had brought the issue of examination malpractice to Parliament’s attention.
The debate on this pressing issue is expected to continue as lawmakers consider how best to address the growing problem of examination malpractice and its impact on the country’s education system.
