No assurance for release of WASSCE results – WAEC distances itself from Education Minister’s comment

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has indicated that there is no assurance for the release of the 2024 WASSCE results on December 29, 2024, as announced by the Minister of Education. WAEC has, therefore, distanced itself from the Education Minister’s comments and promises.

According to WAEC’s John Kapi, the council has not been able to fix its broken-down scanners. This has prevented the council from completing the post-WASSCE processes, including scanning the objective test answer cards and processing the results for release.

WAEC has, therefore, called on the general public to dismiss all media publications assuring that the results would be released by December 29.

The council further revealed that the Ministry of Education failed to release the additional GHS35 million requested to facilitate its processes.

The Minister’s press briefing and statement that the results would be released by December 29 are, therefore, inaccurate. He disclosed to journalists at the WAEC office on Tuesday that WAEC was almost done with the marking process and was working to ensure the results were published on time.

The Minister also highlighted the government’s support in alleviating some of WAEC’s financial challenges, enabling the council to focus on accurate marking and timely releases.

WAEC’s Rebuttal

WAEC has refuted the claims and promises made by Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum. According to WAEC’s Head of the Public Relations Unit, John Kapi, the stories making headlines about the result date stemmed from a brief visit to the council by the Minister.

In his rebuttal, John Kapi explained that the stories on social media and in some sections of the media emanated from the Minister’s visit to the WAEC offices to acquaint himself with the progress of work.

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According to WAEC, “Without any formal meeting with the management team of WAEC, he addressed the media present, giving them assurances that results would be released by December 29.”

“We wish to state that apart from a cheque for GHS25 million issued on December 18, no further releases out of the outstanding GHS118 million have been made.

“The Council awaits the release of the additional GHS35 million it has requested from the Ministry of Education to enable it to fix the broken-down scanners, complete the scanning of the objective test answer cards, and process the results.”

Mr. Kapi added that WAEC’s demand for GHS60 million was originally based on its estimate of what it would cost to repair the broken machines, but the Ministry only released GHS25 million. The council will also need a bigger bandwidth to upload the results once they are ready.

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WAEC is still looking forward to receiving the outstanding balance of the GHS118 million owed by the government so it can carry out its work without further challenges.