“Zero Tolerance for Exam Malpractice,” MoBSE Warns After 631 Results Investigated
MoBSE Minister Dr. Drammeh © Askanwi
By Edward Francis Dalliah, Jr.
The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), Dr. Habibatou Drammeh, has declared a zero-tolerance stance on examination malpractice, as investigations near completion into 631 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results flagged for suspected cheating in 2025, a dramatic rise from just 28 cases the previous year.
Speaking on Monday, 29th December 2025, during the final press conference of the year organised by the Ministry of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, Dr. Drammeh said disciplinary processes were already at an advanced stage. Her remarks followed a question from Askanwi regarding the status of the ongoing probe announced in August during the release of the WASSCE result.
Minister Drammeh told our reporter that “The people who should sit on those cases have already sat on the cases, and very soon those reports will come out.” She added, “But normally, it is not an easy ride for any child involved in these activities. We don’t accept it. There is zero tolerance for exam malpractice.”
According to data from the MoBSE, reported examination malpractice cases surged more than twentyfold, from 28 candidates in 2024 to 631 in 2025, raising concerns about the integrity of the national examination system and the credibility of students’ results.
Dr Drammeh warned that students found culpable face serious consequences, including delayed academic progression. “It retards their progress when it comes to their academic activities,” she added, urging students to refrain from engaging in malpractice.
However, previous Askanwi reporting suggests that students are not the only actors in the problem. Educators and officials working for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) have also been accused of contributing to systemic failures. Ahead of the 2025 examinations, MoBSE and WAEC issued a joint statement dismissing circulating online claims of planned leakages as “fraudulent” and intended to undermine public confidence. The statement assured that WAEC had implemented “comprehensive and robust measures” to safeguard the examination process, from secure handling of papers to marking and results processing.
Despite these assurances, Askanwi gained access to a WhatsApp group allegedly used to share WASSCE 2025 examination questions and answers in real time while exams were still in progress. Messages reviewed indicate that some candidates may have smuggled mobile phones into examination halls, a direct violation of WAEC regulations.
As 631 candidates await the outcome of the investigations, questions persist over whether accountability will extend beyond students to include educators and WAEC officials allegedly involved in exam leakages, a test that could ultimately determine the credibility of the country’s examination system and uphold integrity.
