CUTS International, a leading public policy and consumer advocacy think tank, has described the practice of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) candidates paying a fee to access results as exploitative and unacceptable.
The policy think tank described the current system, which has persisted for 21 years, as exploitative and unjustified. As such, it has called on the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service (GES), and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, to intervene and compel WAEC to stop charging candidates fees to access their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results online.
West Africa Regional Director of CUTS, Appiah Kusi Adomako, stated that WAEC’s practice of requiring students to purchase scratch cards to view their results is not only unnecessary but borders on extortion.
“In many parts of the world, examination bodies do not charge students to access their results. In our local universities, students can access their results free of charge, as is the case in every jurisdiction. This is a basic right that should not come at a cost to students or their families,” he said.
He noted that before 2004, WAEC printed and distributed physical results slips to schools, which came with significant logistical costs. However, since transitioning to an online system, those costs have drastically reduced. Despite this shift, candidates are now being asked to pay between GH₵15 and GH₵25 just to view their results.
Citing an example, he said, “This year, for example, about 600,000 candidates wrote the BECE, and granted each candidate is paying GH₵15, this will translate to a total of GH₵9 million.
“Going digital was supposed to make things easier and more affordable. But instead, candidates are now forced to pay out of pocket for a service that should be free.”
He mentioned countries like South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya, and Zambia, where students access their results online without paying any fee, a reason why West Africa, including Ghana, should not be different.
Computerised School Placement Also Affected
The statement also raised concerns about the cost burden placed on students accessing their Senior High School placement through the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
“The placement system was introduced to improve transparency and reduce costs compared to the old manual process. Yet, students still have to pay just to find out which school they have been placed in. This defeats the very purpose of automation,” Mr. Adomako explained.
Calls for Policy Action
CUTS is calling on the Ministry of Education, the GES, and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education to act swiftly and decisively to end what it describes as an illegal and unfair practice starting this year.
“WAEC is not the only body that runs examinations. Students who sit for ACCA, SAT, TOEFL, GRE, IELTS, and even our national service postings access their results or placements online for free. The same should apply here,” Mr. Adomako stressed.
He argued that the fact that this practice has persisted for 21 years does not justify its legitimacy. “Accessing exam results or computerized placement into SHS should not be a luxury or a source of revenue. It should be a basic service as it pertains in another jurisdiction.”
The authorities must ensure that education remains accessible and affordable to all, he reiterated.
Appiah Kusi Adomako, Esq., West Africa Regional Director for CUTS.
