The government has given the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) an amount of GH¢55 million for organising this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The Public Relations Officer of WAEC, Winifred Ampiaw, confirmed receipt of the money on Eyewitness News on Thursday, July 27, 2023.
“I can say that we have received some amount of money that will enable us to conduct the exams, for both WASSCE and BECE. However, there’s a payment plan to pay the rest. So far we have received GH¢10.5 million to be able to conduct BECE, and for WASSCE, we have received GH¢40 million. This amount will enable us to take care of the pre-exams activities and the conduct of the exams itself. We’ve received GH¢55 million in total received, I know for a fact that we have received the money”.
“The payment is for this year’s exams, we are supposed to spend a rough estimate of GH¢18 million for BECE. For WASSCE, the total cost for just the pre and the conduct of the main will take us to GH¢63.5 million. We are left with about GH¢7.5 million. However, I want to assure the public that yes, we are in the position to conduct both exams for this year,” she assured.
This comes on the back of claims by the Minority that the 2023 WASSCE and BECE may not come off due to the failure of government to honour its financial obligations to WAEC.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament, the Minority Spokesperson on Education, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, expressed concern that WAEC urgently requires over GH¢50 million to settle its financial obligations and ensure the seamless organization of the 2023 examinations.
He highlighted the current challenges faced by WAEC, citing the government’s failure to release funds for compensating individuals who provided their services during the 2022 WASSCE.
Deputy Education Minister, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, also reacting to the Minority’s claims on Eyewitness News said government is working to settle the rest of the money.
Reaction from the Minority in Parliament
The Minority in Parliament has said that this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) could be in jeopardy as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is in debt.
This was revealed by the Minority Spokesperson on Education, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, who said the government has delayed releasing funds to them to undertake their functions.
According to him, WAEC has not been able to pay supervisors, invigilators, examiners, and some other people who worked for them during the 2022 WASSCE.
“The challenge for WAEC now is the government’s inability to release funds to them to perform their functions. Those who worked for WAEC last year, 2022, in the conduct of the WASSCE have not been paid the allowances due to them The supervisors, the invigilators, the examiners, and all other persons. So, WAEC is unable to raise funds to meet its obligations.
“Now, the examinations are about to start, or they have even started with the orals and practicals and the WAEC is not having money to pay for last year’s services. So we don’t know what the government is doing and if care is not taken, the persons or the teachers who gave us the service may not be ready to provide services again as supervisors and invigilators.”
He stressed that if WAEC does not get funds, it will be difficult to conduct the exams this year.
“This is the challenge WAEC is facing and if we don’t help them to get what is due them, I don’t know how the exams for this year, that of the WASSCE and BECE will be conducted. For now, they need about 50 million cedis to clear the previous year’s arrears, then what will be given to them to conduct the examinations for this year? Those who print their scripts, answer booklet, they owe all of them so if you don’t pay, how will they provide those materials for you.”
