Monrovia – Some high school administrators and students are raising concerns over the possibility of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) refunding money paid as registration for the regional exams.
Report by Willie N. Tokpah – [email protected]
They are making the request following President George Weah’s announcement during his address to the Legislature that his administration would the payment of WASSCE fees for all 12 Graders in the country.
The President’s goodwill came after many students had already paid their fees to sit the most prestigious regional exams.
These students had complained of difficulties in getting their fees paid ahead of the deadline and that the sum was too exorbitant.
Some said they borrowed money to make the payment base on agreement to pay back.
The WAEC has, however, told FrontPage Africa it would refund the payment of fees to various school administrators when government completes the final payment, which is expected at the end of February 2018.
“We have indicators and we have people informing us that the government will make good their payment.”
“We are going to refund the fees, every single amount they have deposited into our own accounts but with a condition, we are not going to refund today, we are going to refund once government makes good her promise,” Gbotoe said.
Administrators of three schools in Paynesville city have told FrontPageAfrica they are under pressure from students who are demanding refunded following the President’s address.
School authorities are currently engaging the examination council for the refund of fees to various institutions, said Samuel Kofi Jones, administrator of Kalita High School.
Dada Drapper of Patmelia Academy School System in Paynesville city said the students are praising the president for paying their fees but others who have already paid are now raising reservations.
“Since the pronouncement, bulk of them are now engaging us on the possibility of getting back their money, and I think it would be important that WAEC refund registration fees given to them,” Drapper said.
Godfray Mulbah of the Paynesville Central Academy said the issue of refunding WASSCE fees is critical and should be handled probably.
“Some students’ payment was done by the school and WAEC should pay back to schools rather than students,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dale G. Gbotoe, Head of WAEC national office, has confirmed receipt of US$200,000 from the new government.
Mr. Gbotoe said, the amount is an initial payment of a total US$2.1 million promised by the new administration to underwrite the exam fees for approximately 35,000 senior high candidates.
According to WAEC, the estimated number of students has increased to 3,000 more than the total number who sat the exams last year.
“The initial arrangement was that government will make an initial payment of US$200,000 but we were told not to make public announcement until after the inauguration,” Gbotoe said, adding the negotiation was made following the slow pace in payment of fees by candidates of various high schools in Liberia.
He said a before the President pronouncement little over 1,000 students were finding it difficult to complete their payment, but 17,738 candidates had already completed by then.
At the same time, some students who spoke to FrontPageAfrica have hailed the government and said the decision is “gateways to enable all students participate in the regional examinations”.
Samettea Ballie, a female student of the Paynesville Central Academy, said she was struggling to raise fund to make the payment until President Weah made the announcement.
“I am so thankful to God because my parents earlier told me they don’t have money to pay my WASSCE fee,” she said. “I walk from area to area including CDC Headquarters and there was no place to get money for my fee.”
‘I felt very bad because my father is not working and my mother is selling but cannot get good profit, so she could not afford to pay the fee, I had no hope to get money anywhere so I decided to sit and wait for next year’s exam. When I heard Weah’s pronouncement about paying 12 graders’ WASSCE fees, I was happy until I cry. I want to tell President Weah thanks, only God can pay him.”
Another student, Smith Slobert praised Weah’s administration for the decision, and called on WAEC to refund his money.
Said Slobert: “We are grateful to President Weah for listening to our cry and we also wish that he continues this for others who will follow us, but there is a need that WAEC refund our registration fees we paid to them for the exam.”