By Hervé Gobou
Through the Ministry of National Education, Literacy, and Technical Education, led by Minister N’Guessan Koffi, Côte d’Ivoire must now address three major challenges: changing mindsets by promoting merit and hard work, dismantling organized cheating networks, and restoring the international credibility of Ivorian diplomas.
Indeed, the fight against cheating and examination fraud has become a major issue of educational governance in Côte d’Ivoire. From Kandia Camara to Koffi N’Guessan, through Mariatou Koné, successive ministers have adopted different approaches while pursuing the same objective: restoring the credibility of Ivorian qualifications.
From 2011 to 2021, Minister Kandia Camara had to manage an unprecedented expansion of school enrollment. However, this growth was accompanied by a weakening of academic standards. Social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp, became major channels for examination fraud, with answer keys circulating before the BEPC and Baccalaureate examinations.
Despite awareness campaigns and preventive measures, cheating remained widespread, damaging the reputation of Côte d’Ivoire’s education system.
From 2021 to 2025, Minister Mariatou Koné sought to initiate a major shift by launching the General States of National Education and Literacy (EGENA). The goal was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the education system and propose structural reforms. However, due to limited resources and insufficient political commitment, many of the recommendations remained largely theoretical. Shortages of science teachers and the decline of elite secondary schools further deepened the crisis, while examination fraud continued to undermine public confidence.
The Arrival of Koffi N’Guessan
Appointed in January 2026, Minister Koffi N’Guessan adopted an approach based on transparency and what he described as “shock therapy.” Unlike his predecessors, he publicly acknowledged the extent of the system’s shortcomings and enlisted the support of the BNETD to modernize educational infrastructure.
The digitization of procedures, the installation of surveillance cameras in examination centers, and the distribution of anti-fraud kits mark a new phase in the fight against cheating. The official theme of the 2026 examination session, “An Educational Community Committed to Credible Examinations,” reflects this determination to bring about meaningful change.
Furthermore, Minister N’Guessan Koffi’s announcement of stricter disciplinary sanctions demonstrates his firm commitment to drastically reducing cheating in schools and fraud during national examinations. He has recommended prison sentences for those responsible for examination fraud, as well as the suspension of students found guilty of cheating for at least two years.
While part of the population welcomes these measures as necessary to curb fraud, others argue that imprisoning students—many of whom are minors—could worsen their social vulnerability. Likewise, some critics view examination suspensions as a denial of the students’ right to education.
Regardless of differing opinions on these measures, there is broad consensus that Minister Koffi N’Guessan has made the eradication of school cheating and examination fraud a top priority of his administration.
