The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has announced that the upcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), scheduled for July 2024, is at risk of cancellation due to severe funding challenges.
The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has expressed serious concerns about the government's failure to release essential funds required for the preparation and administration of the upcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), scheduled for July 8, 2024.
With the exam date fast approaching, there is an urgent need to purchase necessary logistics. The Director of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, highlighted the severity of the situation during an interview on Joy FM's Midday News. He stated, "For BECE, we still have an outstanding payment of ₵698,500, and for the 2024 examination, we expect a total amount of ₵95,837,306 from the government."
So far, the council has received ₵2,284,618, leaving a substantial outstanding balance of ₵93,552,688 required for the BECE. Kapi emphasized that the $2 million received is insufficient to facilitate the examination, underscoring the need for immediate financial support to prevent any disruption.
The Minority caucus on the Education Committee in parliament raised the issue of funding for the upcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) this week, calling for a payment schedule from the government.
Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, the Ranking Member on the Education Committee, proposed to the Committee Chairman that they convene a meeting with the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Education, and the national officer for WAEC to develop a roadmap for releasing the necessary funds. He emphasized that this would enable WAEC to conduct the BECE and ensure they have the required financial resources to fulfill their mandate.
"The BECE is coming on next month, and they need to prepare financially with resources to carry out their mandate. So, they need money," Nortsu-Kotoe stated. He also mentioned the need for funding for the upcoming WASSCE examination in August, stressing the urgency of meeting with the various authorities to determine how funds can be released to WAEC.
However, Dr. Prince Hamidu Armah, the Vice Chairman of the committee, downplayed the seriousness of the government's indebtedness, arguing that such funding delays have been the status quo for the past decade.
Dr. Prince Hamidu Armah, the Vice Chairman of the Education Committee, highlighted that in 2023, the government allocated over ₵80 million towards the BECE, and for 2024, it has already disbursed ₵2.5 million with an additional ₵6 million.
“Just to make the point that the government has demonstrated commitment towards making payments and ensuring that the examinations are conducted,” he affirmed.
In related developments, both the education and health sectors have been severely affected by persistent inflation, which stood at 23.1% as of May 2024, down from 25% in April 2024. These sectors have reportedly faced significant challenges recently, showing no signs of immediate improvement.
Government Statistician Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim stressed the critical need for proactive and pragmatic measures from government institutions to address the ongoing situation.
