Parents complain about arbitrary BECE registration fees

There is growing anger among parents in Kumasi over what they say is the arbitrary Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) registration fee charged by some public schools in the metropolis.

They pay between GH¢20.00 and GH¢30.00 to register their children for the upcoming examination although the official fee is GH¢7.00.

Baffour Kyei, a parent, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he found it difficult to accept the basis for the huge increase and disparities in the fees.

He, therefore, appealed to the Education Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to investigate and stop the cheating.

Mr Joseph Kwasi Adiyiah, Deputy Director in-charge of Examination, Kumasi Metropolitan Education Directorate, confirmed that the registration fee as GH¢7.00.

The actual amount charged by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) is GH¢24.00 but the Government has absorbed GH¢17.00.

Mr Adiyiah said some school heads are levying parents for mock examinations ahead of the BECE and that the additional charges had the consent of parents, an explanation, Madam Faustina Obidiaba, another parent, disputed profusely.

“My brother, it is simply an imposition. The decision was not made by parents,” she added.

Mr Adiyiah warned school heads against charging levies that had not been approved by the GES.

Offenders, he said would be sanctioned.

Source: GNA