When results are cancelled, dreams are cancelled too. It's time to break the cycle.

 

Each year, the release of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results is met with great anticipation across Ghana. For many families, it is a defining moment marking the transition from junior high school to senior high school and determining the future paths of thousands of students. Yet, alongside the excitement, there is often a cloud of anxiety brought about by a recurring issue: the cancellation of results.

A Perennial Problem:

Over the years, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has had to withhold or cancel portions of results due to examination malpractices. These may include cases of leaked papers, impersonation, the use of unauthorized materials, or collusion among candidates. Unfortunately, this has become a perennial occurrence. Instead of focusing solely on celebrating the achievements of students, stakeholders are repeatedly confronted with the embarrassment and disruption that result cancellations bring.

Causes Behind the Trend:

1. Weak Examination Security : Despite efforts to safeguard question papers, leaks still find their way into the public domain.

2. High Pressure for Success : Parents, schools, and students often place enormous pressure on securing high grades, sometimes pushing candidates towards malpractice.

3. Lack of Strict Supervision : In some centers, invigilators and officials fail to enforce examination regulations firmly.

4. Commercialization of Education :  Some schools prioritize reputation and rankings over integrity, encouraging shortcuts to ensure their students perform well.

Impact on Students and Families:

Emotional Trauma: Affected candidates experience disappointment, shame, and a sense of injustice.

Educational Disruption: Cancellation of results delays the academic progression of many hardworking students.

Financial Strain: Families often spend years investing in their children’s education only to face setbacks through no fault of their own.

Erosion of Confidence: Constant cancellations cast doubt on the credibility of the examination system itself.

Finding a Way Forward:

To break this perennial cycle, all stakeholders must accept responsibility:

WAEC and MoE: Strengthen exam security through technology, including digital encryption of exam papers and real-time monitoring systems.

Schools: Shift focus from mere results to holistic education : teaching integrity, critical thinking, and real competence.

Parents: Encourage hard work and discipline instead of fueling unhealthy competition and shortcuts.

Students: Understand that true success is built on effort and honesty, not malpractice.

Conclusion:

The cancellation of BECE results should not be an annual headline. Ghana must rise above the cycle of malpractice and results annulment to protect the integrity of its education system. When students are allowed to earn their success honestly, the future of the nation becomes brighter. The “perennial problem” of results cancellation must give way to a perennial culture of discipline, fairness, and excellence.