According to Dr. Eric Nkansah, the Director-Genieral of the Ghana Education Service (GES), students enrolled in free senior high school (SHS) in their final year are not required to pay the GH¢465 registration fee for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
He claimed that the government had already covered the aforementioned costs and that the only students who needed to pay the registration fees to take the test were those who did not qualify for the free SHS policy.
At a press conference in Accra last Monday, Dr. Nkansah was responding to a story circulating that all senior high school students needed to pay the specified registration fees before they could take the exam.
After learning that the WASSCE registration fee has been set at GH¢465 in the news, many parents have inquired as to whether or not all of their children will be able to pay. “All students in government secondary schools under the Free SHS program are not required to pay any registration fees because it has been absorbed by the program,” he added.
The Director-General also called on headmasters of SHSs to desist from pressuring SHS Three students who are currently on vacation to return to school to complete their registration forms.
He stated that his team was collaborating with WAEC to allow students enough time to finish the registration process, which is scheduled to conclude on April 19, 2024, following their April 17 return to school.
“We know some of the students live far and near and are enjoying their vacations at home, so they are not expected to return to school to complete their registration until school reopens on April 17. We can assure them that they will be given ample time; we are working with WAEC to make sure ample time is given for the completion of their registration,” Dr Nkansah added.
Additionally, Dr. Nkansah conveyed her appreciation to the three teacher unions that had been on strike since March 20 of this year for ending their industrial action.
“This is pleasant news indeed, and I want to take the opportunity to applaud them for calling off this strike to pave the way for us to continue with negotiations,” the Director-General said.
