Invigilators to boycott BECE over unpaid transport fares

Some invigilators and supervisors of the on-going Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Ashanti Region are threatening to boycott the exercise.

According to them, the Ghana Education Service (GES) owes them transportation fares from last year and until that is settled, they will withdraw their services as invigilators.

The Ashanti Region has the highest number of candidates for the week long examination.

A total of, 87,815 made up of 45,197 boys and 42,618 girls.

The supervisor of the invigilators, Owusu Sakyi told Citi News, the money owed them from last year is just GHC 50 but after taxes, their take home is GHC 33

He stated that the invigilators say they will invigilate until 3pm on Wednesday and if “the government does not release the money, they will go back to their classrooms and teach on Thursday and Friday.”

Mr. Sakyi pointed out that the teachers are aggrieved because they commute from their various stations to the examination centers therefore, it is important that their transportation fares are paid.

Meanwhile following reported cases of female student absenteeism in the examination, the Education Ministry is promising to investigate the matter.

Deputy Education Minister in charge of Pre-Tertiary Education, Alex Kyeremeh told Citi News, such developments affect government’s quest to bridge the gender parity gap, hence, their resolve to investigate and bring an end to such happenings.

“If you look at the general statistics for this year, we are bridging the gender parity gap and those absent, I don’t think it’s so much but we’ve also asked the supervisors at the various centres to do their own investigations since headteachers were not there for further interrogation,” he said.

Source: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana

BECE Invigilators In Volta Region Threaten Boycott

Some invigilators overseeing the on-going Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Volta Region are threatening to boycott the examination if last year’s invigilation fees were not paid by Wednesday, June 18.

They said the value of the allowance, owed them by the Ghana Education Service, was depreciating and they could not wait forever. The invigilators expressed the sentiment when Mr Francis Ganyaglo, the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, with some officials from the Regional Education Directorate, visited some examination centres in the region.

The invigilators said though the West African Examination Council (WAEC) paid their travel and transport fees, the GES, which was to pay the invigilating allowance was yet to do so.

The supervisors at the centres confirmed the threat of boycott but said they were encouraging the invigilators to consider the future of the pupils.

Madam Olivia Enyonam Kwawukume, a Supervisor at Dzodze Centre “B”, said the Centre suffered in recruiting invigilators because of the delay in paying invigilation fees, explaining that, many were not prepared to do the work anymore.

Meanwhile, three pregnant candidates defied all odds and joined their mates at the Awudome Senior High Centre to write the examination.

They said irrespective of taunts from some of their colleagues, they were determined to write the examination and further their education after child birth.

Mr Ganyaglo urged the candidates to remain focused and pass with flying colours. He asked parents and teachers to encourage the candidates and said the Region believed in them and was hopeful this year’s results would be good.

About 31,267 candidates, made up of 13,916 females and 17,351 males are taking part in the examination in the 26 districts of the Region.


Source: GNA