Govt yet to release funds for 2022 WASSCE, BECE – WAEC

The government is yet to release funds for the conduct of the 2022 edition of the WASSCE and BECE for School slated to commence in August and October respectively, a source close to the West African Examinations Council said.

An official of WAEC Speaking on condition of anonymity told the Ghana News Agency his outfit as of July 19 had not received the expected amount for the administration of the national and international exams for final year students.

According to a media report sighted by AcademicWeek, the central government owes the management of the non-profit-making organisation (WAEC) a total of GH₵ 15,790,072.00 for the conduct of the 2021 WASSCE and BECE.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, a Ranking Member on the Parliament Education Committee, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe said the most significant problem facing the WAEC in the discharge of its mandate is the inadequate release of funds.

“Mr Speaker, the situation has become dire as no money has been released to WAEC for the conduct of the 2022 WASSCE and BECE. WAEC immediately needs a total of Ninety-Six Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Four Thousand,

Four Hundred and Thirty -Two Ghana Cedis and Forty Pesewas (GH₵ 96,694,432.40) to engage in a number of pre -examination activities, transportation, and allowances for examiners, supervisors, invigilators and depot-keepers.

Mr Speaker, it is disheartening to know that persons who supervised and invigilated the BECE for school candidates, as well as script checkers for 2021, are yet to be paid the allowances due them.

Mr Speaker, I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Minister of Finance to as a matter of urgency release money to the West African Examination Council for smooth conduct of this year’s examination,” he told Parliament.

In a related story, WAEC after four member countries of the Council reverted to the usual May/June calendar for the conduct of the 2022 WASSCE has said only Ghanaian candidates will write the examination in August/September.

Head of National Office – WAEC, Addy-Lamptey in an interview with the Daily Graphic newspaper said the member countries Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia conducted their WASSCE SC from May 9 to June 24, this year.

“The four countries have had their academic calendars streamlined to enable them to write the examination in May/June, as Ghana sticks to the ‘new normal’ calendar occasioned by the COVID pandemic in 2020,” she told Graphic.