Accra: Child Alert Foundation (CAF), a non-governmental organisation focused on the welfare of children, has called for an extensive systemic reform to Ghana's education ecosystem to establish a stronger foundation and secure a more credible future for the country. It observed that systemic failures in the education system and the overemphasis on grades had fueled cheating in national examinations like the BECE, a phenomenon which normalised dishonesty, fraud, bribery, and mediocrity in public and private spheres.
According to Ghana News Agency, in a statement signed by Mr Enoch Justice Yebuah, the Executive Director and copied to the agency, CAF cautioned that such dishonesty produced unqualified professionals like doctors and engineers, engendered mistrust in institutions and stifled national development. It raised questions about the values being taught to children in schools and confidence in tomorrow's professionals, insisting that the future of Ghana depended on integrity in education, not just grades.
The statement warned that if society continues sacrificing the integrity of the educational systems for the sake of passing grades, it risks creating a society where degrees are meaningless, professionals are unqualified, and trust in institutions is non-existent. This, in turn, stifles national development, deters serious investment, and ultimately costs lives. CAF maintained that the future is not written on leaked papers but is shaped in the classroom, with hard work, integrity, and a collective desire to do what is right.
CAF called for a nationwide campaign to shift the cultural narrative surrounding education to promote real knowledge and skills acquisition, and integrity which formed a true foundation of Ghana's future. It also proposed a more severe sanction regime for perpetrators of examination offences to serve as a deterrent and sanitise the system. The organisation urged the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and government agencies to step up efforts to secure exam processes, using advanced technology to prevent leaks and ensure fairness.