IFEST Calls on WAEC to Report Teachers Involved in Misconduct to NTC The Institute for Education Studies in Africa (IFEST) has implored the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to report any teachers engaged in examination misconduct to the National Teaching Council (NTC) for appropriate disciplinary action. IFEST made this appeal following the recent spate of examination irregularities during the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The institute expressed concern that such unethical practices undermine the credibility of the examination and compromise its integrity. According to IFEST, teachers play a pivotal role in ensuring the conduct of free and fair examinations. However, instances of teachers aiding or abetting students in cheating cast a shadow over the profession and damage the reputation of the teaching fraternity. IFEST believes that swift and decisive action is necessary to deter such behavior and uphold ethical standards within the teaching profession. The NTC, as the regulatory body for teachers in Ghana, has the mandate to investigate misconduct and impose appropriate sanctions, including suspension or revocation of teaching licenses. By reporting teachers involved in misconduct to the NTC, WAEC can contribute to the efforts to weed out unethical practices from the teaching profession and promote a culture of integrity in the conduct of examinations. IFEST further called on the NTC to intensify its monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that teachers adhere to ethical guidelines and prevent future occurrences of examination misconduct. The institute also urged stakeholders, including parents, students, and the general public, to report any suspected cases of teacher misconduct to the appropriate authorities promptly. By working together, IFEST believes that WAEC, the NTC, and all stakeholders can create a system where examinations are conducted fairly and transparently, ensuring that the true abilities of students are assessed and recognized.IFEST Calls for Enhanced Punishment for Exam MalpracticesIFEST Calls for Enhanced Punishment for Exam Malpractices Education think tank, the Institute for Education Studies (IFEST), has urged the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) to implement more stringent measures to discourage examination malpractices. Following the recent arrests of 18 teachers and invigilators for various offenses during the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), IFEST has emphasized the need for WAEC to go beyond reporting these incidents to the National Teaching Council (NTC). According to IFEST Executive Director Dr. Peter Partey-Anti, such behaviors constitute unprofessional misconduct and should be met with additional consequences. He urged WAEC to formally report these teachers to the NTC for further disciplinary action. “Apart from the investigation and other things that WAEC is doing, WAEC should officially report these teachers to the National Teaching Council for them also to take actions on this behavior which constitutes unprofessional misconduct,” Dr. Partey-Anti said. He emphasized the importance of teachers preparing students for examinations based on their abilities, rather than engaging in malpractices. The arrest of 18 teachers and invigilators during this year’s BECE has raised concerns about the integrity of the examination process. Despite a successful overall administration of the BECE, with 569,095 candidates participating across 2,123 designated centers, the involvement of educators in malpractices remains a concern. IFEST’s call for enhanced punishment aims to deter future instances and maintain the credibility of the examination system.IFEST Urges WAEC to Report Misbehaving Teachers to NTC The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFEST) has called on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to report teachers involved in misconduct during the conduct of public examinations to the National Teachers Council (NTC) for appropriate disciplinary actions. Professor Newman Kusi, the Executive Director of IFEST, made the call at a stakeholder engagement on the release of the 2022 WAEC examination results. He emphasized that the integrity of public examinations must be upheld, and any form of malpractice must be met with swift and decisive actions. “We urge WAEC to work closely with the NTC to ensure that teachers who engage in misconduct face appropriate consequences, including suspensions or even revocation of their licenses,” Professor Kusi said. He also stressed the need for WAEC to strengthen its monitoring and surveillance systems during examinations to deter potential misconduct. “The presence of independent observers and the use of technology can help to minimize the incidence of malpractice,” he added. The NTC has the mandate to regulate the teaching profession and ensure the maintenance of professional standards. By reporting teachers involved in misconduct to the NTC, WAEC would be contributing to the effective enforcement of these standards. Disciplinary actions against misbehaving teachers would not only deter future misconduct but also serve as a deterrent to potential offenders. It would also restore public confidence in the integrity of public examinations and ensure that students are evaluated fairly based on their performance.