GES To Sanction Buduatta Headmaster Over BECE Registration Fees

Asare Michael Baarffour (Devarsh) 1 year ago

Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, has directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to take disciplinary action against Buduatta DA Junior High School headmaster Richard Ahunyagbe for embezzling funds.

Dr. Yaw Adutwum’s decision follows allegations that Richard Ahunyagbe squandered fees intended for the registration of certain final-year Buduatta DA JHS students for this academic year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The Education Minister stated in an interview monitored by AcademicWeek that disciplinary actions will be taken against heads of government Junior High Schools (JHSs) involved in various infractions during the ongoing 2023 BECE.

He stated that the Ministry of Education will consult with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on the matter, and that the Ghana Education Service (GES) would also take punitive action against the offending headmaster.

“WAEC exams are now free under Free Senior High School, as are BECE and WASSCE.” I heard that a headmaster took money from some of the candidates. The headmaster may have extorted the parents of these students; I will meet with WAEC about it.

“Also, the Ghana Education Service will deal with him; we will question him about why he took the money because, despite the economic challenges, we pay WAEC directly and nobody is supposed to pay.” “His case is very serious,” he said.

A total of 600,714 prospective candidates, 300,323 males and 300,391 females, from 18,993 Junior High Schools, will take the 2023 BECE, which will take place from Monday, August 7, 2023 to Friday, August 11, 2023.

According to the non-profit organization (WAEC), the number of candidates who registered for this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for School is 8.8% higher than the entry figure of 552,276 for 2022.

“The BECE for School Candidates will be held at 2,137 examination centres across the country, while the BECE for Private Candidates will be held at 15 centres, primarily in regional capitals,” WAEC said in a post.

BECE School and Private candidates will have access to 21 subjects, including 5 Core and 16 Electives. In addition to the 5 Core subjects, School candidates will have the option of selecting 4 Electives for a total of 9 subjects.