Candidates preparing to sit for the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE) have been reminded to take the examination rules seriously, as various forms of examination misconduct attract sanctions, including cancellation of papers, rewriting of examinations, rustication, dismissal and possible prosecution.
The official GTLE Examination Offences and Penalties document outlines a number of offences that candidates must avoid before, during and after the examination.
One of the most serious offences is leakage of examination questions, which involves having knowledge of or possessing examination questions before the examination. Candidates or persons involved in such an offence face dismissal.
Candidates are also prohibited from bringing unauthorised materials into the examination hall. These include notes, textbooks, prepared materials, blank papers, programmable calculators, mobile phones, iPods, MP3 players and other unauthorised electronic devices. Possession of such materials can result in the cancellation of the candidate's particular paper and a requirement to rewrite it the following year.
Other forms of malpractice include copying from prepared notes or another candidate's script, stealing or tampering with another candidate's script, substituting worked scripts, and exchanging question papers. These offences can lead to cancellation of the candidate's paper and a rewrite the following year.
The regulations also caution candidates against repeatedly looking over another candidate's shoulder, commonly described as "giraffing," in an attempt to cheat. A first offence is documented and the candidate may be required to sign a bond, while a second offence can lead to cancellation of the paper and rewriting the following year.
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Impersonation is another serious offence. Candidates who impersonate another candidate or allow themselves to be impersonated may face dismissal and/or prosecution.
Candidates are equally warned against assisting others or attempting to obtain assistance during the examination. Such conduct can result in the cancellation of the candidate's paper and a rewrite the following year.
The use of books, notes or unauthorised electronic devices during the examination is also prohibited. Candidates found consulting such materials may have their paper cancelled and be required to rewrite the following year.
Disruptive behaviour is also covered by the regulations. Candidates who persistently disturb or distract other candidates may be stopped from continuing the examination.
The rules further impose serious sanctions for verbal threats or physical assaults against supervisors, invigilators, examiners or other authorised persons. Verbal assault or threats may result in cancellation of the candidate's paper and rustication for one year, while physical assault can lead to dismissal and prosecution.
Bringing anything, including a chemical substance, into the examination hall with the intention of causing temporary or permanent injury to an authorised person or another candidate can also result in dismissal and prosecution.
Candidates are additionally prohibited from destroying materials that could serve as evidence against them. Such an offence can lead to cancellation of the candidate's paper and rustication for two years.
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The regulations also cover seemingly minor actions that candidates might overlook. Writing after the examination has ended, despite persistent reminders to stop, attracts a caution for a first offence. A second offence can result in cancellation of the paper and a rewrite the following year.
Candidates who frequently seek permission to leave the examination hall under the pretext of answering nature's call, with the intention of cheating, may also face sanctions. A first occurrence attracts a caution, while a second offence can result in the candidate being stopped from continuing the examination and the appropriate cheating sanction being applied.
Failure to write the required index number on the question paper after persistent reminders can also be treated seriously. After the first caution, continued failure to write the index number may be interpreted as an intention to cheat, resulting in the candidate being stopped from writing the paper.
The regulations further identify fabrication of data as an offence. This includes claiming to have conducted experiments, observations, interviews or research that were not actually carried out, or claiming to have obtained results that were not obtained. The stated penalty includes cancellation of the candidate's project work and undertaking another fieldwork exercise under supervision.
Plagiarism is another offence. Candidates are prohibited from reproducing another person's work without acknowledging the source, copying another person's work and presenting it as their own, or substantially using another person's work and submitting it as original. The penalty includes cancellation of the candidate's project work and rewriting an essay on a different topic.
Finally, attempting to influence examiners to alter or change marks is also prohibited. This includes writing pleas in answer booklets or letters to examiners, supervisors or invigilators. Such conduct can result in cancellation of the candidate's paper and a rewrite the following year.
Candidates Must Take the Warning Seriously
The list of offences makes it clear that examination malpractice is not limited to copying answers. Actions involving unauthorised materials, electronic devices, impersonation, communication, disruptive behaviour, tampering with examination materials, plagiarism, threats and attempts to influence examination officials can all attract serious consequences.
Candidates preparing for the GTLE are therefore encouraged to familiarise themselves with the examination regulations and ensure that they enter the examination hall with the right mindset and only the materials permitted by the examination authorities.
A candidate's preparation should not be jeopardised by an avoidable act of misconduct.
The message is simple: prepare well, follow the examination rules and stay away from examination malpractice. A moment of misconduct could result in the cancellation of a paper, a compulsory rewrite, rustication, dismissal or prosecution.
Every candidate registering for the GTLE is also required to complete the Candidates Declaration Form, confirming that they have read and agreed to abide by the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the examination.
GTLE candidates are therefore urged to take the rules seriously and protect their results by avoiding every form of examination malpractice.
GTLE Examination Offences & Penalties
Important rules and sanctions every GTLE candidate should know
| No. | Examination Offence | Penalty / Sanction |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Leakage of Examination Questions Any knowledge of or possession of examination questions before the examination. |
Dismissal of offender(s) involved.
|
| 2 |
Possession of Unauthorised Materials Possession of materials likely to be used during the examination, including notes, textbooks, prepared materials, blank papers, programmable calculators, mobile phones, iPods and MP3 players. |
Cancellation of the candidate's particular paper(s) and
rewriting the following year.
|
| 3 |
Copying and Tampering With Scripts Copying from prepared notes or another candidate's script, stealing, converting or misappropriating scripts, substituting worked scripts or exchanging question papers. |
Cancellation of the candidate's paper and rewriting the
following year.
|
| 4 |
"Giraffing" Persistently looking over another candidate's shoulder in order to cheat. |
1st offence: Report documented and filed;
candidate made to sign a bond.
2nd offence: Cancellation of paper and rewriting the following year. |
| 5 |
Impersonation Impersonating another candidate or allowing oneself to be impersonated. |
Dismissal and/or prosecution of candidates
involved.
|
| 6 |
Assisting or Obtaining Assistance Assisting or attempting to assist, obtaining or attempting to obtain assistance from a candidate or non-candidate. |
Cancellation of the candidate's paper and rewriting the
following year.
|
| 7 |
Consulting Unauthorised Materials Consulting or attempting to consult books, notes, unauthorised materials or electronic devices during the examination. |
Cancellation of the candidate's paper and rewriting the
following year.
|
| 8 |
Disturbing Other Candidates Persistently disturbing other candidates or distracting their attention. |
Candidate(s) may be stopped from continuing the examination.
|
| 9 |
Assault or Threat a) Verbal assault or threat against supervisors or invigilators. b) Physical assault against supervisors, invigilators, examiners or authorised persons. |
Verbal assault/threat: Cancellation of paper
and rustication for 1 year.
Physical assault: Dismissal and prosecution. |
| 10 |
Intent to Cause Injury Bringing into or using anything, including chemical substances, with intent to cause temporary or permanent injury to authorised persons or other candidates. |
Dismissal and prosecution of the candidate(s).
|
| 11 |
Destroying Evidence Destroying materials suspected as evidence against an offender, including notes, textbooks, prepared materials, papers, calculators or electronic devices. |
Cancellation of the candidate's paper and
rustication for 2 years.
|
| 12 |
Destroying Examination Materials Destroying examination materials inside or outside the examination hall, such as tearing answer booklets or question papers. |
Cancellation of the candidate's paper and rewriting the
following year.
|
| 13 |
Writing After the Examination Has Ended Continuing to write after the examination has ended despite persistent reminders. |
1st offence: Caution.
2nd offence: Paper cancelled and candidate rewrites the following year. |
| 14 |
Misuse of Permission to Leave the Hall Frequently seeking permission to attend nature's call with intent to cheat and cheating. |
1st time: Caution.
2nd offence: Candidate stopped from continuing the examination and the necessary cheating sanction applied. |
| 15 |
Failure to Write Index Number Failure to write index numbers on the question paper after persistent reminders. |
First time: Caution.
Continued failure may be interpreted as intention to cheat, and the candidate may be stopped from writing the paper. |
| 16 |
Fabrication of Data Claiming to have conducted experiments, observations, interviews or research that were not actually carried out, or claiming results that were not obtained. |
Cancellation of candidate's project work. Candidate to
undertake another fieldwork under supervision.
|
| 17 |
Plagiarism Reproducing another person's work without acknowledging the source, copying another person's work and presenting it as one's own, or substantially using another person's work as one's own. |
Cancellation of candidate's project work and rewriting an
essay on a different topic.
|
| 18 |
Attempting to Influence Examiners Attempting to influence examiners to alter or change marks, including writing pleas in answer booklets or letters to examiners, supervisors or invigilators. |
Cancellation of the candidate's paper and rewriting the
following year.
|
Candidates are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the examination rules and avoid all forms of examination malpractice. Depending on the offence, penalties may include cancellation of papers, rewriting, rustication, dismissal and prosecution.
Declaration by Candidates
Every candidate registering for the GTLE must complete the Candidates Declaration Form and agree to be bound by the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the examination.
Candidates declare that they have read the regulations governing the conduct of the GTLE and understand that they may be liable for prosecution in the event of a breach of any of the rules and regulations.
