WASSCE 2025: St. James Seminary SHS Students Face Intense Security Checks Before Morning Paper
- St. James Seminary SHS WASSCE candidates were rigorously searched barefoot, with pockets emptied and collars raised before exams
- Teachers and invigilators enforced strict rules, allowing only writing materials and necessary tools into the examination halls
- The trending video sparked online reactions, with Ghanaians recalling traditions and others questioning the intense exercise
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A video has gathered a series of reactions after some candidates of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) 2025 were thoroughly searched before the start of their exams.
Source: Facebook
YEN.com.gh spotted a video where the students of St. James Seminary Senior High School (SHS) took turns being searched by the exam invigilators and teachers before sitting for their morning paper.
The students were seen barefoot, queuing in lines of three, and told to empty their pockets of items that might implicate them in the exam hall.
The students were also told to tuck out their shirts from their trousers and also raise their uniform collars up.
The only items they were allowed to take into the examination were their writing materials and the necessary tools
Watch the moment the students were searched by the invigilators below:
Education Minister speaks on exam malpractice
YEN.com.gh understands that the WASSCE 2025 started on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, with over 461,640 candidates across the country.
Out of the total number of candidates, 254,259 students were females, while 207,381 students were males.
This was a slight increase of 1,029 registered candidates compared to last year's candidates of 460,611.
This also happens to be the fourth year that Ghanaian students are sitting down for the “Ghana Only” version of WASSCE, introduced to give the country full control over the examination calendar.
Also, Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister for Education, reaffirmed his unchangeable stance to tackle exam malpractices and cheating involving students and teachers.
Source: TikTok
The Minister also vowed that decisive actions are in place to uphold the integrity of the country's education system.
Rigorous screening of WASSCE students stirs reactions
YEN.com.gh collected reactions from Ghanaians who watched the video on Facebook. Some of the comments are below.
Frank Moneysale wrote:
"If I tell you how I sneaked phone into the exam room during my time, EOCO won’t let me sleep in peace."
Kwaku Atta said:
"I completed St. James Seminary and Senior High School in 2004, and we went through the same procedure."
REAKO commented:
"School papa dier woboa oo. Sincerity, fidelity and perseverance.😋"
Dennis Adu said:
"This has been the tradition. Barefooted, no boxers, and no singlets."
Francis Okutu wrote:
"Why all this? I'm even sure they'll even give them pen to go right 😅, but definitely they'll all make it."
SHS students shave 'shakora' before exams
YEN.com.gh had earlier reported that two final-year students from Jinijini Senior High School shaved their heads following a pastor's divine instructions.
This is a practice locals in Ghana call 'Sakora.'
The students, confident in the spiritual guidance, combined their faith with academic preparation for their upcoming exams.
Source: YEN.com.gh
