Some final-year students of the Kadjebi Asato Senior High School (KASEC) in the Oti Region risk missing out on this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) following the imposition of a GH¢500 fee by the Headmaster of the school, Cole Emmanuel Kwabla.
The Daily Graphic gathered that all 956 candidates had been compelled to pay GH¢500 each for the examination, contrary to the Ghana Education Service (GES) directive.
While some students confirmed they had already paid the amount, others said they were yet to pay due to financial constraints.
One of the students explained that the amount was intended to cover the WASSCE practicals.
“The school administration said any student who fails to pay the money will not be allowed to sign the final document to write the WASSCE.
I managed to pay mine last week, so they allowed me to sign,” the Visual Arts student said.
Context
The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) recently released GH¢22.3 million to all Senior High Schools (SHSs) and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTSs) to cover the fees for the 2026 WASSCE practicals.
The amount was part of three cheques, totalling GH¢199.47 million, released to settle outstanding payments for perishable supplies to SHSs/SHTSs and other educational needs.
The payment was to ensure that all 2026 WASSCE practicals were fully supported, including the provision of the required materials and other essential resources.
The GETFund emphasised that the payment reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring no candidate would be denied access to any aspect of the 2026 WASSCE.
Non-compliance
Meanwhile, a highly placed source at KASEC confirmed to the Daily Graphic that some final-year students who could not pay the amount being charged by the headmaster were anxious about the uncertainty surrounding their participation in the WASSCE.
“As of today, students who are unable to pay such money cannot sign up to write the exams and this is worrying because it is affecting their preparation for the examination,” the source said.
Some teachers at KASEC, who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity, said the collection of GH¢500 from final-year students ahead of this year’s WASSCE was not only unethical but also likely to foster a sense of entitlement among students during the examination.
Alleged extortion
Sources close to the school administration accused the headmaster of using clandestine means to extort money from students.
For instance, one of the sources alleged that the headmaster charged students who were not placed in KASEC GH¢500 for admission without receipts.
Again, the source said each of the current first-year students was charged GH¢200 for admission processing without receipts.
“Last semester, the headmaster made each student pay GH¢50 as a development levy, but no receipts were issued, and there is no evidence of the usage of the funds.
“In addition, he sells hymnals to all students at GH¢50 without receipts,” another highly-placed source said.
Response
When the Daily Graphic contacted the headmaster for his side of the story, he did not deny any of the allegations, except to say that he was not in a position to give any details about the payments made by the students.
When asked whether the allegations levelled against him were true, he referred the Daily Graphic team to the PTA Chairman for any information regarding the collection of money from final-year students.
In a rather uncompromising posture, he stressed that he needed approval from the Oti Regional Directorate of Education before he could provide any information about such payments.
“I am not the Regional Director of Education; I am not the District Director of Education; I am not the Publication Relations Officer,” he stressed and ended the call.
PTA chairman’s denial
Meanwhile, when the Daily Graphic spoke to the Chairman of the KASEC PTA, Michael Aboagye, he said the association had no hand in collecting money from third-year students.
“As I speak to you now, I have been in a sick bed at the hospital for the past three months.
The PTA has not authorised the collection of any money from final-year students.
“What I know is that the headmaster called PTA members and told them that the school will collect GH¢500 from the final-year students for WASSCE practicals, but I told him point-blank that I am not part of it, so if he gets into trouble, the PTA cannot defend him,” he said.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
