Examiners in Bono Region demand payment for 2023 WASSCE

Examiners in the Bono Region are expressing their frustration over the prolonged delay in receiving their compensation for marking the 2023 West African Examinations Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Despite successfully carrying out their duties and the subsequent release of results, they are still waiting for their rightful remuneration.

This delay in payment has become a recurring issue on an annual basis, prompting the examiners to call for a change in the current system. Despite the release of the results by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in 2023, the examiners report that they are yet to receive their rightful compensation.

One examiner shared, “I started marking in 2010, and everything was okay until recent times when payments are not forthcoming. We have to wait for weeks or even months before we are paid. That is my concern, that is what we are going through now as examiners.

When you contact WAEC, they will tell you that the government has not provided the funds. We don’t even have anybody to advocate for us. They treat us unfairly. Just look at the stress we went through during the marking process, and up until now, we have not been paid.”

Another examiner expressed their frustration, saying, “To be honest, I’m even fed up. This is not the first time they have done this. They have been delaying our payments for about two years now.”

Some examiners also raised concerns about the working conditions, citing overnight work and a strained employer-employee relationship. They pointed out that WAEC should have communicated any disruptions or issues during the marking process but failed to do so.

While authorities at the WAEC office in Sunyani declined to provide an on-camera statement, they acknowledged the outstanding payments owed to the examiners. They assured the examiners that once the funds are released by the government, they will receive their rightful compensation.

On December 18, the West African Examinations Council released the provisional results of candidates who sat for the 2023 WASSCE. The results of 4,878 candidates were withheld due to their failure to return learning support materials provided by their schools. Additionally, subject results for candidates from 235 schools were withheld due to the use of artificial intelligence-generated answers during the examination.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh