WAEC: gov’t pays GH¢55m for WASSCE and BECE

The government has paid a total of GH¢55 million to the West African Examination Council, WAEC, to cover the cost of organizing WASSCE and BECE for this year. Ms Winifred Ampiaw, the Public Relations Officer of WAEC, revealed this.

According to Ms Ampiaw, the money received represents GH¢10.5 million for BECE and GH¢40 for WASSCE. The budget for the two exams was GH¢18 million and GH¢63.5 million, respectively.

“I can say that we have received some amount of money that will enable us to conduct the exams for both WASSCE and BECE. However, there’s a payment plan to pay the rest. So far, we have received GH¢10.5 million to be able to conduct BECE, and for WASSCE, we have received GH¢40 million. This amount will enable us to take care of the pre-exams activities and the conduct of the exams itself. We’ve received GH¢55 million in total received I know for a fact that we have received the money.”

Despite the shortfall, Ms Ampiaw said the council is ready to organize the examinations for both Junior High and Senior High schools in the country this year.

“The payment is for this year’s exams. We are supposed to spend a rough estimate of GH¢18 million for BECE. For WASSCE, the total cost for just the pre and the conduct of the main will take us to GH¢63.5 million. We are left with about GH¢7.5 million. However, I want to assure the public that, yes, we are in the position to conduct both exams for this year.”

There were concerns from the Minority in Parliament that the examination body may not be able to smoothly organize the examinations this year due to the government’s inability to fulfil its commitment. The Minority spokesperson on Education Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, raised the concerns. In response, the Education Ministry, through the Deputy Education Minister Reverend Ntim Fordjour said the government was working to fulfil its commitment to WAEC.