Advocacy Group Calls for Free Access to Exam Results in Ghana
CUTS International, based in Accra, has raised concerns over the current system of accessing exam results in Ghana. As a leading public policy and consumer advocacy think tank, the organization is urging the Ministry of Education to take immediate action to compel the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to stop charging students fees for accessing their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results online.
In a recent statement, the West Africa Regional Director of CUTS, Mr. Appiah Kusi Adomako, criticized WAEC’s practice of requiring students to purchase scratch cards to view their results. He described this as exploitative and unjustified, highlighting that it is unnecessary and borders on extortion.
“Many countries around the world do not charge students to access their exam results. In our local universities, students can access their results free of charge. This should be considered a basic right that does not come at a cost to students or their families,” Mr. Adomako said.
He pointed out that before 2004, WAEC distributed physical results slips to schools, which involved significant logistical costs. However, with the shift to an online system, these costs have significantly decreased. Despite this, students are now required to pay between GHS 15 and GHS 25 just to view their results. For example, this year alone, approximately 600,000 candidates took the BECE, and if each paid GHS 15, this would amount to a total of GHC 9 million.
“This digital transition was meant to make things easier and more affordable. Instead, students are forced to pay for a service that should be free. In countries like South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya, and Zambia, students can access their results online without any fees. Why should Ghana be different?” he questioned.
Additional Concerns Over School Placement
The statement also addressed the issue of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), which is used to determine where students are placed in Senior High Schools. Mr. Adomako expressed concern over the additional financial burden placed on students who must pay to access their placement information.
“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,” he explained.
Calls for Immediate Policy Action
CUTS International 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.
Mr. Adomako emphasized that other examination bodies, such as those administering ACCA, SAT, TOEFL, GRE, IELTS, and even national service postings, allow students to access their results or placements online for free. “The same should apply here,” he 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 jurisdictions.”