CUTS International, Accra, a leading public policy and consumer advocacy think tank, is calling on the Ministry of Education to intervene and compel the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to stop charging candidates fees to access their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results online.

In a statement released in Accra, the West Africa Regional Director of CUTS, Mr. Appiah Kusi Adomako, described the current system as exploitative and unjustified. According to him, 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, exam bodies do not charge students to access their results. In our local universities, student are able to access their results free of charge as it pertains in every jurisdiction. This is a basic right that should not come at a cost to students or their families,” Mr. Adomako 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 GHS 15 and GHS 25 just to view their results. This year for example, about 600,000 candidates wrote the BECE and granted each candidates is paying GHS 15, this will translate to a total of GHC 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. In countries like South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, Morrocco,  Kenya and Zambia, students access their results online without paying any fee. Why should Ghana be different?” he added.

Computerized 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 today, 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 Ghana Education Service, 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 own national service postings access their results or placements online for free. The same should apply here,” Mr. Adomako stressed.

He concluded by urging authorities to ensure that education remains accessible and affordable. 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 other jurisdiction.”

For more information about CUTS, visit  www.cuts-accra.org or email apa@cuts.org. for interview call 0302-245652.