GNAPS Threatens Radical Action Against WAEC: A strong warning has been issued by the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS), which threatens to organize its members to boycott the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) the following year if the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) raises registration costs without consulting them

Private school pupils currently pay GH¢214 for the BECE and GH¢465 for the WASSCE. The Ghana Private School Association (GNAPS) considers these fees to be unnecessarily exorbitant and damaging to the private education sector in Ghana.

GNAPS is promoting the acknowledgement of low-cost private schools as social interventions designed to educate kids from underprivileged backgrounds.

They are pushing the government to absorb examination registration fees for candidates running for private schools, just like they do for public schools, and to expand the Free Senior High School program to private schools.

Demands for Fair Treatment

The president of GNAPS, Professor Damascus Tuurosong, advocated for immediate improvements to the private school system in Ghana at the introduction of the Pre-Tertiary Private Schools Manifesto.

He underlined the necessity of reviewing the regulatory fees levied by educational organizations and doing away with the 30% priority placement scheme.

Professor Tuurosong reaffirmed that GNAPS will boycott the BECE exam the following year if WAEC does not initiate talks on raising fees.

He emphasized that to protect the rights of pupils attending private schools, GNAPS is ready to act.

WAEC’s Response

WAEC is steadfast in its determination not to evaluate new costs for clients, even in the face of threats from GNAPS.

John Kapi, the Director of Public Affairs at WAEC, supported the Council’s stance by pointing to growing expenditures related to overseeing examination procedures, including costs for printing materials, imports, and volatility in the economy.