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.”
