Did Ghana’s Free SHS Policy Succeed at the Cost of Academic Integrity? A shocking allegation has emerged from the Pru East Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Boam, who claims that the Akufo-Addo administration deliberately fostered an environment of widespread cheating during the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). But here's where it gets controversial: Boam suggests this was done to artificially inflate pass rates and portray the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy as a resounding success.
In a bold statement to journalists on December 2, 2025, Boam revealed that under the previous government, students were allegedly allowed to pay what he termed “examination support levies,” a practice that facilitated cheating. Even more startling, he claimed some candidates were permitted to bring mobile phones into exam halls—a glaring breach of standard protocols.
According to Boam, these practices were not isolated incidents but part of a coordinated effort to manipulate WASSCE results. “There hasn’t been any organized and well-orchestrated examination malpractice than what we saw under the past government,” he asserted. “It was properly coordinated between institutions that were compelled to align.”
But this is the part most people miss: Boam also criticized the policy of evaluating headteachers solely based on WASSCE outcomes, despite schools often lacking basic logistical and infrastructural support. “How do you tie the rating of schools to WASSCE results and threaten headteachers with removal when they lack the basic resources to run their institutions?” he questioned, highlighting the systemic pressures that may have contributed to the alleged malpractices.
Boam further detailed how the system was allegedly compromised, with teachers reportedly collecting money from students and collaborating to solve exam questions, which were then passed to invigilators for distribution. “The system was so compromised that students were asked to pay money for examination support, and you had groups of teachers solving questions elsewhere and passing them on to invigilators,” he alleged.
These claims raise a critical question: Did the Free SHS policy’s success come at the expense of Ghana’s educational integrity? Boam has called on the current Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate these allegations and their broader impact on the nation’s education system.
Controversial Interpretation Alert: While the Free SHS policy has been celebrated for increasing access to education, Boam’s allegations suggest a darker side—one where academic success may have been engineered rather than earned. This invites a broader discussion: Should we prioritize accessibility over integrity, or is there a way to achieve both?
What do you think? Do Boam’s claims hold water, or is this an unfair attack on the Free SHS policy? Share your thoughts in the comments below—let’s spark a conversation that could shape the future of Ghana’s education system.
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