WAEC invigilation not compulsory – NAGRAT tells teachers

Following the conduct of the 2022 BECE, the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Eric Carbonu has said invigilation of any of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations is not mandatory.

“Our duty as teachers at those levels must be the preparation of the candidates for the examinations and not compulsory invigilation. WAEC is to employ invigilators and no teacher should be forced into it,” Carbonu said.

Describing invigilation as an optional job, the NAGRAT president urged the Ghana Education Service (GES), the employer of teachers to stop compelling teachers for supervising any examinations conducted by WAEC.

“Let me state clearly that invigilation comes with consequences, they should be willing to face the consequences. We also call for proper remuneration for teachers who invigilate to attract quality teachers to do it,” he emphasised.

The teacher union president cautioned teachers who would like to engage in WAEC’s activities, especially invigilation, to abide by the rules and regulations and not to allow themselves to be influenced by anybody with anything.

In a related development, the not-for-profit-making organization (WAEC) says it will increase invigilators’ remuneration per session only if candidates’ examination registration fee absorbed by the central government is augmented.

A spokeswoman for the Council, Agnes Teye Cudjoeat a press briefing said the budget presently operated by the African Examinations Council only provides a refreshment allowance per session for supervisors and invigilators.

The WAEC official indicated that any additional allowance introduced would have to be factored into the budget leading to an increase in the fees paid by prospective candidates who register for any of its examinations.

“WAEC budget only provides allowance per session for supervisors and Invigilators. Any additional allowance would have to be factored into the budget leading to an increase in the fees paid by candidates,” Agnes Teye noted.

Her comment comes after Africa Education Watch in its 2021 WASSCE Monitoring Report suggested for the not-for-profit-making institution to increase the fees paid to supervisors and invigilators for invigilation and supervision.

The Education Watch in the WASSCE Report copied to AcademicWeek indicated allowances given to supervisors and invigilators when increased and paid on time would not make them compromise the invigilation of an examination.

“To motivate supervisors and invigilators, WAEC must increase their fees and ensure prompt payment of the same. The current GH¢25 per session for an external supervisor and GH¢14 for an invigilator is a demotivator,” EduWatch added.