Four students of Kumasi Academy writing the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) have been arrested by police for allegedly threatening to set the school ablaze after completing their examinations.
The students are reported to have made the threats in response to a controversial “quarantine” arrangement introduced by school authorities, which required them to sit their examinations separately from other candidates.
The four are among approximately 60 students currently being supervised in isolated examination rooms under a measure the school says is intended to maintain discipline and uphold examination integrity.
According to school authorities, the affected students were placed under the arrangement after allegedly violating internal regulations, including chronic absenteeism, refusal to participate in internal examinations, and other forms of misconduct during the academic year.
The decision has, however, generated concern among some parents, who argue that isolating candidates during a national examination places additional psychological pressure on students already facing the stress of the WASSCE. They have described the arrangement as tense and hostile and have called for a review of how disciplinary issues are managed during examination periods.
Officials of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Asokore Mampong Municipality have defended the measure, insisting that it is necessary to safeguard the integrity of the examinations and prevent possible malpractice.
Municipal Director of Education, Samson Anawine Atogembero, said the arrangement was designed to ensure that students with prior disciplinary records do not disrupt the examination process.
“We cannot allow them to be with other students who were regular throughout the semester because they can be disruptive and may interfere with the integrity of the exams,” he explained.
Mr Atogembero also clarified that the term “quarantine” has been widely misunderstood, stressing that the students remain under normal supervision and continue to be treated as regular examination candidates despite being seated separately.
Meanwhile, the Asokore Police Command has confirmed the arrest of the four students over the alleged threats. According to education authorities, the students have since been released after signing bonds of good behaviour.
Mr Atogembero warned that any future threats, acts of vandalism, or attempts to destroy school property would be dealt with firmly under the law.
The WASSCE examinations are currently underway across the country, with education authorities maintaining heightened monitoring and supervision measures to ensure compliance with examination regulations and preserve the integrity of the assessment process.
