Zoundweogo: The underage candidates implicated in an alleged fraud during the 2026 BEPC (Junior High School Leaving Certificate) exam at the Guere secondary center in the commune of Guiba, Zoundweogo province, are scheduled to appear before a juvenile judge on July 6, 2026. Adult candidates and two proctors involved in the same case will face trial on July 8, 2026, as per a statement from Roland Oulon, the prosecutor of Faso at the High Court (TGI) of Manga, released on July 2, 2026.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the case involves suspected fraudulent activities during the 2026 BEPC national exam at the Guere secondary center. An investigation, initiated after a report from the police commissioner of Guiba district, led to the questioning of several candidates and individuals responsible for the exam's organization and supervision.
The investigation revealed that during the physics and chemistry exam, one proctor allegedly guarded the door while another provided candidates with answers acquired via a mobile phone and generated through an artificial intelligence system. Furthermore, during the English test, four candidates reportedly exchanged answers while one supervisor was asleep, and the other was outside the exam room.
The accused, presented before the prosecutor on June 23, 2026, confessed to the fraudulent acts in the official examination, as per articles 376-1, 376-2, 376-3, and 376-4 of the Penal Code. Given the gravity of the situation, the adult candidates and two supervisors have been placed under arrest warrant.
The prosecutor's office announced that the underage candidates will appear before the juvenile judge on July 6, 2026, while the adult candidates and the two supervisors will appear before the correctional court of the TGI of Manga on July 8, 2026. This will be conducted with full respect for the rights of the defense and the presumption of innocence.
Roland Oulon, the prosecutor of Faso at the TGI of Manga, emphasized his office's commitment to combating all forms of fraud in official examinations to maintain the integrity of the national education system.
As a reminder, on June 9, 2026, Todjim Mare, president of the Guiba jury, issued a note expelling 34 candidates from the first round of the 2026 BEPC session at the Guere secondary center for fraud during the English and physics-chemistry tests. This decision aligns with the procedures manual regarding sanctions, which states that "in the event of guilt confirmed by the jury, the copy or copies concerned are cancelled and the candidate or candidates are removed for fraud," as affirmed by Todjim Mare.