The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has raised concerns about a potential delay in releasing the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results if the government does not disburse the remaining funds promptly.
Speaking on Joy Prime’s Prime Morning, John K. Kapi, the head of public affairs for WAEC, discussed the significant impact that delayed government payments could have on the timely release of examination results.
He emphasized that such delays could disrupt the academic calendar, affecting students, educational institutions, and the broader educational system.
“So far, we are still writing the examinations. There are a lot of things that will go on after the examination before the marking and processing of results will begin. So, my belief is that by the time we start marking, looking at the process that has been started, we should be able to get the money in before the marking exercise starts,” Mr. Kapi stated.
Despite the ongoing efforts by WAEC to ensure the government releases the remaining funds to support the timely processing of results, Mr. Kapi noted that only 60 to 65 percent of the required funds have been received so far. He expressed optimism that the remaining funds would be secured before the marking process begins.
“Whatever we received is between 60 and 65 percent. As I speak, plans are afoot for the government to release the rest of the money to us to be able to complete the process and release results at the appropriate time,” he added.
Mr. Kapi’s comments come in the wake of reports indicating that the government has been slow in disbursing funds to WAEC for the commencement of the examination.
Despite government assurances about the pending disbursement, Mr. Kapi called for more proactive measures to prevent such funding delays in the future.
He advocated for a structured and reliable funding mechanism to consistently support WAEC’s operations, especially during examination periods.
“We need to ensure that WAEC is adequately funded well in advance of examination periods. This will not only prevent delays but also enhance the overall quality and reliability of the examination process,” he argued.