The Offside Trap of Deception: A Religious Perspective on Examination Malpractice in Ghana

Abstract

Examination malpractice in Ghana's educational system poses a serious threat to academic integrity, moral values, and national development. Yet, it remains pervasive due to systemic pressures, ethical decline, and institutional complicity. There is a need for a faith-informed and culturally grounded approach to address the deeper moral and spiritual dimensions of this issue. This article, therefore, was written to highlight how this academic practice undermines educational integrity and national development and how it may be addressed. To achieve its purpose, the paper analyzed how students, teachers, parents, and institutions engage in malpractice by framing the issue metaphorically as the “offside trap” in football—a deceptive strategy used to gain an unfair advantage. The research adopts a qualitative, metaphorical approach and draws upon scriptural references from Christianity (Proverbs 12:22; Acts 5:1–11), Islam (Qur’an 2:42; 83:1–3), and Ghanaian traditional values to demonstrate the spiritual and ethical violations inherent in exam malpractice. It argues that such practices are not merely rule-breaking but constitute profound moral failures that erode societal trust and violate religious norms of honesty and integrity. The key findings are that systemic pressures, institutional complicity, and declining moral values contribute to the normalization of malpractice, which in turn produces ill-equipped graduates and damages the credibility of educational credentials. The paper concluded that tackling examination malpractice requires a multi-stakeholder, value-based response, combining moral education, institutional reform, and religious engagement. This article contributes to knowledge by offering a faith-informed, culturally grounded framework to re-establish ethical standards in Ghana’s education sector.