Schools, private candidates to be examined differently — WAEC

In a significant move aimed at enhancing the assessment process, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced that it will, for the first time, adopt a differentiated examination approach for schools and private candidates.

This decision comes in the wake of the introduction of the common core curriculum, which necessitates distinct examination content for the two groups of candidates.

School candidates sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will be evaluated based on the new common core curriculum, whereas private candidates will continue to be examined under the old syllabus.

The Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, disclosed this crucial information during a press briefing in Accra.

He emphasized the importance for private candidates to pay careful attention when selecting their subjects, given the curriculum divergence. Additionally, Kapi revealed that the BECE registration fee is set at GH¢214.

Highlighting the registration process, Kapi noted that the registration portal, which opened on March 11, would close on April 19.

He cautioned against late entries, citing test security as a primary concern, and outlined the fees for entering seven to nine subjects at GH¢465.00, excluding charges for practical or oral tests.

Kapi also issued a warning to school authorities regarding the consequences of enrolling unqualified candidates, including the potential withholding of results pending investigation.

Kapi further advised parents and the public to exercise caution when selecting schools for registration, especially avoiding ‘banner schools’ lacking the requisite facilities.

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He urged schools to ensure the accuracy of candidate details and shared the schedules for the General and Advanced Business Certificate Examinations, along with the WASSCE for private candidates, emphasizing the importance of timely registration and accurate fee payment.

On the financial side, Cornelius Azumah, the Director of Finance at WAEC, highlighted the challenges faced due to incomplete fee payments by the government, which has impacted the council’s ability to remunerate examiners, supervisors, and invigilators.

Despite these challenges, efforts are ongoing to resolve the arrears issue.

Lastly, the Head of Legal Department at WAEC, Reverend Victor Brew, provided updates on the council’s efforts to combat examination malpractices, expressing optimism about reducing such incidents in the future through diligent prosecution and enforcement of regulations.

This strategic shift by WAEC marks a pivotal development in West African education, aiming to refine assessment methods and ensure that examinations are aligned with current educational standards and curricula.

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