Ghana’s Parliament has approved a tax waiver of $3.2 million for the supply of KAPEK scientific mathematical instruments to be procured for use in the upcoming West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
A report from the Finance Committee of Parliament revealed that WAEC has resolved to supply students with the instruments that will reduce the incidence of examination malpractice.
Chairman of the Finance Committee, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah, in laying the report said;
“The Minister of Education sort approval to use single source tendering method for the supply of KAPEK scientific mathematical instruments. In order to successfully import the equipment, there is a need to waive taxes and duties applicable. It is in this regard that the request for waiver of taxes and duties has been submitted to Parliament for approval in accordance with Article 174 of the 1992 constitution.”
“Again the request is to seek approval for the waiver of taxes amounts to the Ghana cedis equivalent of 3,214,538 on KAPEK scientific mathematical instruments supply to the Ghana West African Examination Council for use during the examination. The Committee observed that the supply of mathematical sets will help to combat examinations malpractice perpetuated especially by use of mathematical sets, calculator in examination halls by candidates and it will also provide three in-one functionality which comes in cheaper than acquiring them individually and also help improve the rating of the certificate issued.”
But on the side of the Minority, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was of the view that the government should have considered analysis for better value for money before approving the tax waiver.
“Nakaraj Mathematical instruments are GHS12 and that’s the most expensive one. This is GHS75. So what really went into this. We are told that it comes with some calculator and some other features. The report says that it is a scientific mathematical instrument with a calculator attached. The matter that we need to avert our minds to is value for money because if you attach a calculator to this, we are sure if you add a calculator to this package for GHS75, is it really value for money? And also it wasn’t clear if it was a competitive tender,” Ablakwa said.
Government absorbs fees of WASSCE candidates
The president Akufo-Addo, in a televised address to the nation, announced the government’s decision to absorb the full examination fees of all students sitting for the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)
While delivering the address to update the country on the fight against COVID-19, President Akufo-Addo indicated that a total of 318,837 students will benefit from the intervention, with an estimated cost of GHS 75.4 million.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, the Government will absorb the WASSCE examination fees of the 313,837 SHS 3 students who will sit for the exam. GH¢75.4 million will be spent on this. These SHS 3 students, also referred to by some as the ‘Akufo-Addo graduates’, are the first group of beneficiaries of Government’s Free Senior High School policy to sit the WASSCE exams,” President Akufo-Addo said.
