No funds to print question papers; 24,000 pupils unable to write exams

About 24,000 pupils of 120 basic schools in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region were unable to write their end-of-term examination owing to lack of funds to print their examination papers.
According to the Bosomtwe District, Director of Education, Mr William Awuni, both teachers and pupils in the district had adequately prepared for the examination but the delay in releasing the capitation denied them the opportunity of participating in the examination.
He said that was the second time pupils in the district had been unable to write their end-of-term examination as a result of the delay in the release of funds to print examination questions, explaining that a similar incident happened in 2011.
While expressing concern over the situation, Mr Awuni noted that the Education directorate received its capitation grant of GH¢35,000 when schools were preparing to vacate.
He said the Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (CHOBS) in the district, together with the District Directorate of Education and the Bosomtwe District Assembly, had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that allowed pupils in the district to write a common examination.
That, according to him, was to standardise and streamline teaching and learning activities in the district.
He said they further agreed not to collect any levy from the pupils in the form of examination fees but rather use part of the capitation grant to print the examination questions.
Explaining further, the district director said prior to the signing of the MoU, teachers were sacking pupils for the non-payment of printing fees, a situation that created truancy and undermined academic work.
Asked when the pupils would be assessed, Mr Awuni said now that the money had been released, all pupils would write their examination in January next year.
The District Chief Executive, Mr Edward Nti Berko, confirmed that the assembly had received a budget of GH¢27,000 for the printing of examination questions.
Some of the pupils who spoke to Daily Graphic expressed concern over the postponement of their examination, explaining that in the circumstance, they would have to use time meant for academic work to write the examination.
“Teachers use periods supposed for the teaching of new topics to supervise examination, mark examination papers and prepare reports. This seriously affects academic work,” they complained.
 
Source: Myjoyonline