2023 BECE, WASSCE at risk over debt gov’t owes WAEC – Minority

The Minority in Parliament says if a debt the government owes the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is not paid immediately, they are unsure whether 2023 BECE and WASSCE for School will be administered as scheduled.

Minority spokesman on Education, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, speaking to journalists said the non-profit-making organization (WAEC) requires over GH¢‎50 million to settle its financial obligations for the smooth conduct of the two examinations.

He indicated that current challenges faced by the West African Examinations Council are amid the government’s failure to release funds for compensating individuals who provided their services during the 2022 WASSCE for School.

The financial challenges among others the Minority spokesperson on Education related matters said are allowances owed to supervisors, invigilators, examiners, and other personnel involved in the examination process.

“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 the supervisors, the invigilators, the examiners, and all other persons

“Now the examinations are about to start again 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

“I know of a country, a member country, that by the end of the first quarter, all the budget of WAEC is released to them for national and international examinations. Why can’t we do the same in Ghana?

“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 will be conducted. For now, they need about GH¢‎‎50 million to clear the previous year’s arrears.

Those who print their scripts for them, those who print booklets, they owe all of them. So if you don’t pay, how will they provide those materials for you?” Peter Nortsu-Kotoe told journalists in his submission in Parliament.