A lecturer, psychologist, and educationist, Mr. Samuel Ziggah, says Ghana’s name will enter the Guinness Book of World Records should this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) be postponed.
The lecturer who lectures at the University of Education, Winneba, posits that it is embarrassing that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) is begging the government to release money to organise a crucial examination.
The organisation of the 2024 BECE hangs in the balance as WAEC waits to receive the 98 percent of the GH¢95.83 million it needs to organise the examination.
According to WAEC, it will require not less than 50 percent of the total amount to enable it to conduct the examination and a further release of more funds to enable it to process and release the results.
The Ministry of Finance has reportedly released GH₵47.13 million to WAEC to organise the exams.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, confirmed this to journalists last week Friday.
WAEC’s Head of Public Relations, John Kapi, acknowledged the amount’s release, adding that it would be smart to expedite the payment’s processing into WAEC accounts via the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS).
Mr. Ziggah commented on the delay in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM that “personally, I am praying the government will release the money for the students to write the BECE of not our name will be captured in the Guinness Book of World Records. If the exams fail to be held, it would be unprecedented. Ghana will be the first country in history to do this. This is not proper and will have psychological effects on the children who have prepared for the BECE,” he said.
He stressed the need for the government to release the money to WAEC so they could organise the exams.
He stated that “the delay and WAEC’s request to the government to release funds for the exams amount to irresponsibility and not setting your priorities right.” The administration should prioritise its actions and concentrate on the most critical and vital aspects. Even if the government needs to go into ‘owo besia’ to pay WAEC, they should go for it.”
By: Rsinbowradioonline.com/Ghana
