GCE 2026 Examinations: CCTV Cameras Now Obligatory, Defiant Centres Risk Relocation

On the threshold of the 2026 examination season, the Cameroon General Certificate of Education (GCE) Board has issued a high-stakes ultimatum to educational institutions nationwide: install Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems immediately or lose the right to host candidates.
In a formal reminder (Ref. Nº: 000 105/2026) dispatched from the Board’s headquarters in Buea on March 31, 2026, the GCE Board Transition Management Team (TMT) - led by Mrs. Ndi Bernadette Frinwie Ntemna - reiterated that surveillance in all classrooms and halls is no longer an option, but a mandatory requirement for the 2026 session.

The "Safe Centre" Mandate
The directive targets "All Chiefs of Accommodation Centres," serving as the final warning before the commencement of the June 2026 session. The Board’s stance is unyielding: any centre failing to provide a monitored environment will be disqualified. Candidates registered at non-compliant institutions will be forcibly moved to "different centres with the facility," a move intended to safeguard the examination's integrity at the cost of logistical convenience.
This policy aligns with the 2025-2026 Academic Year Theme set by the Ministry of Secondary Education (MINESEC): “Safety, Health, and Learning in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” By integrating technology into the physical examination space, the Board aims to capitalize on what Minister Prof. Nalova Lyonga has described as the "positive momentum of digitalization" within the Cameroonian education subsector.

Combatting Endemic Malpractice
The shift toward 24/7 visual monitoring follows years of documented challenges regarding examination integrity. Official reports and academic assessments from the 2024 and 2025 sessions highlighted persistent issues with "pre-prepared materials, collusion, and the use of programmed smartwatches."
According to the GCE Board Specific Regulations on the Conduct of Examinations, the Board’s watchword for this era is “Measuring Learning in an Era of Educational Accountability.” Historically, the Board relied heavily on human invigilators, with a ratio of approximately one invigilator per 35 students. The 2026 CCTV mandate effectively creates a "digital invigilator," allowing the TMT to monitor safe rooms - where question papers are stored - and examination halls in real-time, reducing the reliance on physical proximity alone to deter cheating.

Climate Of Increased Scrutiny
The Board’s insistence on CCTV is part of a broader "Clean School Philosophy." Beyond cheating, the cameras are intended to monitor the "Security and Maintenance of Examination Materials," as o...