BECE in Limbo- WAEC struggles to Recoup Funds for Examination

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is facing a significant financial crisis as it struggles to recoup funds to conduct the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

Despite receiving only GH¢2.3 million out of the required GH¢95.83 million, the council has appealed to relevant stakeholders to release the remaining funds to enable it to organize the examination.

According to the Head of Public Relations at WAEC, John Kapi, the council needs at least 50% of the total amount to conduct the examination, and a further release of more funds to process and release the results. The examination is scheduled to take place from July 8 to July 15, 2024, across all centers in the country.

Kapi expressed concerns that if the funds are not made available in time, the examination might not be conducted as scheduled.

He explained that suppliers have been unwilling to provide materials on credit due to WAEC’s indebtedness, which has led to delays in the procurement of essential items such as bond paper, consumables for printing machines, and answer booklets.

The late release of funds has also impacted on the conduct of examinations, making them more expensive than usual.

The council has had to airfreight some items instead of ordering them by sea, resulting in significant cost savings. For instance, script envelopes that would have cost $6,500 by sea freight now cost $29,000 by airfreight.

Also read;2024 BECE RME Top Questions To Watch Out For

The council is also facing challenges in terms of personnel and equipment. With an increasing number of candidates each year, WAEC needs more personnel and equipment such as scanners and biometric equipment to check malpractice.

However, due to delays in payments from previous engagements, there have been agitation among supervisors, invigilators, examiners, and script checkers.

Kapi appealed for adequate logistics and funding to enable WAEC to execute its mandate diligently and conduct credible examinations.

He emphasized that the council is committed to conducting transparent and fair examinations, but the lack of resources is posing a significant challenge.

The situation has raised concerns about the feasibility of conducting a successful BECE this year.

The Ghanaian government and other stakeholders must act quickly to address this issue and ensure that WAEC receives the necessary funds to conduct a successful examination.

Anything short of this could lead to a collapse in public confidence in WAEC’s ability to conduct fair and transparent examinations.

As we await a resolution to this crisis, it is imperative that WAEC receives the necessary support to ensure a smooth and successful examination process.

The students who are preparing for this examination deserve nothing but the best, and it is up to us as a society to ensure that they receive it.

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