By Grace Q. Bryant
The Representative of District 2 Bong County, James Kolleh, has requested the plenary for the inclusion of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) headquarter dues, which would amount to US$5.5 million, in the 2024 National Budget.
Rep. Kolleh’s communication was read on March 12, in the 18th day sitting of the 1st quarter of the 1st session of the House of Representatives.
According to Rep. Kolleh, the amount represents subversions owned by the Government of Liberia to the WAEC’s Headquarter in Ghana for several years.
He stated further that the inclusion of the amount into the 2024 financial instrument is necessary because it will help meet Liberia’s financial obligation to the WAEC Headquarters and prevent the state from potentially falling into trouble with headquarters.
“This matter is concerning to me because, if we fail to settle our obligation to WAEC Headquarters, the youthful population of this country, to which I belong, could be deprived of sitting this year and future exams, thereby stalling their quest for tertiary education,” he alarmed.
He maintained that the WAEC headquarters in Ghana has been consistently informing the local office in Liberia about the payment of dues, and failure on the government’s part will consequently lead to the suspension of Liberia’s participation in the examinations.
He emphasized that the WAEC exam is the only standardized exam for the school system in Liberia, stating, “If our students are deprived of doing WAEC, in my mind, it will also further deprive them of attending higher education, and if this plenary can do us the most needful by ordering this communication for the best legislative actions, it will be in the interest of our students,” Rep. Kolleh pleaded.
He added, “It is established that every lawmaker has students sitting WAEC or people who elected them that will be sitting WAEC this year, and our failure to pay dues that might lead to our membership’s suspension, I think it is not in the interest of our country and our youthful population, and poses a serious literacy threat.”
The communication was forwarded to the committee on Education for consideration after the legislative break.
