WAEC Spent N1.5bn To Conduct 2020 WASSCE – Says Official
The West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) said it spent over N1.5 billion to conduct the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).
The Head, WAEC National Office in Nigeria, Areghan Patrick, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at the 2021 budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services.
Patrick added that over 1.5 million candidates sat for the examination, while 80, 000 officials were engaged to mark the papers.
He said that each candidate paid N13, 900 as examination fee, adding that only registration and administration fees came to the council’s coffers.
Patrick said that WAEC is not a revenue-generating body but an assessment body that collects money to conduct examinations for students.
He said that money collected from candidates does not belong to WAEC but service providers.
The council head said WAEC was currently having a deficit of N7 billion, adding that the council was not fully funded.
He pleaded that the 2020 budget should be fully released to the council as money collected from candidates was not enough to conduct the examinations.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the committee, Julius Ihonvbere, who commended the council for its service to the nation, reiterated the committee’s support for the council.
Ihonvbere queried the council for its revenue generation drive and urged it to emulate the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
NAN
