The Screenshot in the WhatsApp Group
During end-of-term examinations at a co-educational junior high school, Adjoa, a Form Three student, is added to a WhatsApp group in which her cousin Kojo is selling photographs of the Integrated Science paper for GHS 20 each. Kojo is football captain and holds a sports bursary. He claims a teacher left the paper on an unattended desk and that 'everyone does it'. Adjoa has not paid, but she saved the messages. Two friends want her to keep quiet because Kojo's teammates may beat him if the school finds out. If she reports, the whole class may have results cancelled and Kojo may lose the bursary; if she stays silent, pupils who studied honestly will be ranked behind buyers. The school has an anonymous reporting box, but the last pupil who used it was identified by a teacher. The RME teacher notices Adjoa is distressed and asks to speak with her privately, promising not to act without explaining the next step.
1. Analyse the conflict between loyalty to Kojo and Adjoa's responsibility to the school community. What facts would you need to verify before deciding?
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The moral conflict
Adjoa owes Kojo family loyalty, but loyalty is not a licence to conceal serious harm. Selling an examination paper gives buyers an unfair advantage, damages the results of honest pupils, and exposes the school to cancellation and reputational loss. Kojo's claim that 'everyone does it' is a rationalisation, not a justification. Adjoa also has a duty to protect herself: reporting may expose her to retaliation, and the previous breach of the anonymous box is relevant. Her responsibility is to bring the matter to a proper authority, not to broadcast it or to punish Kojo herself.
Facts to verify before deciding
- Are the photographs genuine and is the paper the actual examination paper?
- Did a teacher leave it unattended, and who else had access?
- Is Kojo selling, or merely forwarding? Who bought?
- What is the school's written policy on reporting and confidentiality?
- Are the threats against Kojo real, and is Adjoa at risk?
A whistleblowing test helps: is the harm serious, is the purpose proper, is there a safer route, and is the disclosure proportionate? Here the harm is serious; a confidential report to a designated teacher is proportionate; social media exposure would not be.
2. Propose a step-by-step action Adjoa could take, and explain how the school should protect her and Kojo's due process.
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Step-by-step plan
- Save the messages and times; do not delete or forward them.
- Ask the RME teacher directly whether the conversation can be confidential, who will see the report, and what protection exists. Get the answer before naming names if possible.
- Report to the teacher or head, not to the class group. Ask that the source be withheld and that the report be recorded in a sealed file.
- Ask the school to secure the examination room, the teacher's desk and all copies of the paper; investigate the teacher's role as well as pupils'.
- Request a safety plan: changed seating, supervision, and a named contact. If threats occur, report them as a separate safeguarding matter.
Due process for Kojo. The school must tell Kojo the allegation in writing, give him a hearing, and keep the investigation confidential. It should not let football staff or fans punish him. Sanctions should be proportionate and consistent with policy; the bursary should not be withdrawn by rumour. The school should also apologise and repair the anonymous box system, because a reporting channel that identifies pupils fails its purpose. Adjoa's action is responsible if it is accurate, confidential and aimed at preventing harm-not at revenge.