Cheating can be said to be a dishonest means of finding an easy way out of an unpleasant situation. It is generally used for the breaking of rules to gain unfair advantage in a competitive situation or the act of being unfair in order to gain an advantage, especially in a game or examination. According to recent news articles in Ghana, Brong Ahafo region has picked the most unenviable position in the league of regions whose students are fond of cheating in examinations. In the Region alone, about 4,000 students were caught cheating in last year’s Senior High School’s final examinations.
The Head of International Examinations Department of the West African Examinations Council, Nii Christian Johnsons described as alarming, the rate of cheating in Ghanaian schools over the past five years. This cheating canker so happens not only by the efforts of students but by the extra help of some teachers and even police officers who are both supposed to make sure orderliness is ensured during examination. According to Nii Johnsons, the situation is worrying because these students were aided in their ignoble act by teachers and police personnel who ironically were supposed to supervise cheating-free examinations at the centres. In every occurring exams recording a number of students who cheat I propose in the subsequent paragraphs how cheating in examinations could be curbed.
First of all, government should be able to do its part in curbing the cheating. This can be done in various ways; prevent exams from being leaked out, this can be done by setting up a security system to secure the question paper, police officers and independent supervisors to monitor the papers from the printing company to the schools, also trustworthy teachers and police officials should be the only ones allowed to supervise the exams.
Secondly, strict sanctions should be imposed on schools caught manipulating the exams in any way. Any student or teacher found violating the exam rules should be barred and arrested. One Mr Kwetey reports that, he does not think that there is any reason to protect someone who cheats, from all future harm. He states that, students have to realize that there are consequences for their cheating actions so they will not continue to make mistakes later, when the stakes are higher.
Academic integrity is a major problem at every level of education, and it stems from some of the attitudes expressed by students on this thread. I therefore believe that, when the above is considered and enforced, I believe cheating in examination can be gradually curbed.
Author: SUMAYATU MOHAMMED (Group 2)
Crew: SHIRLEY BAIDEN, ROBERT CHINERY, MARTIN OSEI-AMEYAW, ABU MUBARIK, MELODY ANNOH, MARTHA GYENFA FRIMPONG, RUBY BONSIE, ESTHER COMMODORE, EMMANUEL EFFAH-DENNIS
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