BECE, WASSCE results might delay over GHC33m debt owe WAEC – Dr. Apaak

The deputy ranking member on the Education Committee in Parliament, Dr. Clement Apaak has predicted that releasing results for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West Africa Senior Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE) might delay.

The Minority in Parliament had predicted that the smooth administration of the 2023 WASSCE) and the BECE will be in jeopardy unless the government immediately settles all outstanding debts owed to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The Minority also voiced out their worry over the fact that WAEC urgently needs more than GHC50 million to pay its debts and ensure the smooth administration of the 2023 exams.

They referred to the government’s failure to disburse funds for compensating people who volunteered their services during the 2022 WASSCE as one of the current issues faced by WAEC.

This covers the compensation due to managers, invigilators, examiners, and other exam-related staff members.

“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. So, WAEC is unable to raise funds to meet its obligations,” the ranking Member on the Education Committee, Peter Nortsu Kortoe stated.

“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?” he added.

Commenting on the current situation after the exams, deputy ranking Member on the Education Committee in Parliament said sources have indicated that WACE is struggling to meet its obligation to those engaged to grade the papers.

“Government owes WAEC 33M for BECE and WASSCE 2022.

“According to deep throat sources, if gov’t fails to pay the 33M arrears immediately, it could result in delays in grading BECE and WASSCE 2023 as WAEC will struggle to meet it’s obligations to those engaged to grade the papers,” he stated in a tweet on Sunday October 1, 2023.

Source: Today.com.gh