The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has shed light on how it identified instances of candidates relying on Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms during the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

In the release of provisional results, WAEC stated that some candidates engaged in malpractices, leading to result cancellations and withholdings. WAEC says that subject results from 235 schools are under scrutiny due to candidates employing answers generated by artificial intelligence.

According to WAEC, the results of candidates from 235 schools were withheld due to the use of AI-generated answers.

The Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, Mr. John Kapi, explained in an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM that they discovered some candidates copied incorrect answers provided by the AI platforms.

He said, “One candidate typed in the question, and the response was that ‘I’m not familiar with the term you have used,’ and the candidate wrote the same response in the answer booklet. Another candidate wrote, ‘I cannot detect the term you have used.’ This is a clear indication of the use of AI.”

Mr. Kapi highlighted the evolving challenge of cheating methods, noting that candidates used to bring in mobile phones, take snapshots, send them for solutions, or sneak in with pre-solved answer sheets.

The rise of AI as a method of cheating presents a novel and substantial challenge.

The WAEC spokesperson highlighted intentions for collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure rigorous enforcement of rules concerning mobile phone usage in secondary schools.

Concerning the inquiry into the use of mobile phones, AI, or intercepted questions, Mr. Kapi stated that investigations into the matter are underway.

“We’ve monitored all the rogue websites that were publishing the questions we had put out there. Our investigations and some reports that were received from national security indicated that all the questions that were found online were put out there after the commencement of the examination. The suspicion is that these questions were out there after the supervisors or invigilators or even candidates had taken snapshots and put them out there seeking assistance,” he stated.

Mr. Kapi emphasized the significance of candidates engaging in independent work and relying on individual efforts for certification.

Those suspected of using AI are anticipated to be invited for a fair hearing as part of the investigation process.