Zoundw©ogo: The underage candidates implicated in the fraud case during the 2026 session of the BEPC (Junior High School Leaving Certificate) exam at the Gu©r© secondary center in Guiba, Zoundw©ogo province, are scheduled to appear before a juvenile judge on July 6, 2026. The adult candidates, along with two proctors accused in the same incident, are set to face trial on July 8, 2026, as stated by the prosecutor of Faso at the High Court (TGI) of Manga, Roland Oulon, in a statement released on July 2, 2026.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the prosecutor's office revealed that the fraud case emerged during the BEPC national exam at the Gu©r© secondary center. An investigation, initiated following a report by the police commissioner of Guiba district, led to the questioning of several candidates and individuals involved in organizing and supervising the exam.
The investigation findings disclosed that during the physics and chemistry exam, one proctor allegedly guarded the entrance while the other provided answers to the candidates, obtained via a mobile phone and aided by an artificial intelligence system. Additionally, during the English test, four candidates purportedly exchanged answers while one supervisor was asleep, and the other was outside the exam room.
On June 23, 2026, the accused appeared before the prosecutor and confessed to the fraudulent activities during the official examination, in accordance with articles 376-1, 376-2, 376-3, and 376-4 of the Penal Code. Due to the severity of the offense, the adult candidates and the two supervisors have been placed under arrest warrants.
The prosecutor's office announced that the minor candidates would face the juvenile judge on July 6, 2026, and the adult candidates and proctors would appear before the correctional court of the TGI of Manga on July 8, 2026. The proceedings will adhere strictly to the rights of the defense and the presumption of innocence.
Roland Oulon, the prosecutor of Faso at the TGI of Manga, reiterated his office's commitment to combating all forms of fraud in official examinations to uphold the integrity of the national education system.
As a reminder, Todjim Mar©, the president of the Guiba jury, signed a note on June 9, 2026, removing 34 candidates from the first round of the BEPC, 2026 session, at the Gu©r© secondary center for fraud during the English and physics-chemistry tests. This decision aligns with the procedures manual's sanctions, which state that confirmed guilty candidates will have their exam copies canceled and will be disqualified for fraud, as per Todjim Mar©'s statement.