The 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), scheduled for July 8th, is facing potential cancellation due to a severe financial crunch plaguing the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC).
WAEC officials have expressed serious concerns over the government’s failure to release crucial funds needed for the preparation and administration of the exams.
With just weeks remaining before the exam date, the lack of funding threatens to disrupt the test for thousands of Ghanaian students.
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“We still have an outstanding payment of ₵698,500 from the previous BECE and we require a total of ₵95,837,306 for the 2024 exams,” revealed John Kapi, Director of Public Affairs at WAEC during an interview with Joy FM. “So far, we have only received ₵2,284,618, leaving a staggering ₵93,552,688 still needed.”
The Minority Caucus’ Education Committee in Parliament has echoed the urgency of the situation, calling for immediate action to prevent a national embarrassment.
Ranking Member Peter Nortsu-Kotoe has proposed a meeting with the Ministers of Finance and Education, along with WAEC representatives, to develop a plan for releasing the necessary funds.
“The BECE is just around the corner and they need to be prepared financially to fulfill their mandate. They need money,” stressed Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe, highlighting the impending WASSCE exams in August that will also require funding.
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However, Dr. Prince Hamidu Armah, Vice Chairman of the Education Committee, downplayed the severity of the situation, arguing that the government has a track record of making payments, albeit sometimes late.
He pointed to payments of over ₵80 million for the 2023 BECE and a combined ₵8.5 million already paid in 2024.
Despite these assurances, the looming financial crisis underscores the challenges facing the educational system sector amidst persistent inflation, which reached 23.1% in May 2024.
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The situation raises serious concerns about the potential for a nationwide disruption of the examination, threatening the future of countless students.
