This is the first year WAEC integrated CASS into the WASSCE registration process. Due to how the last CASS wasn't really enforced, many schools fell short of the deadline given. After this deadline, a fine of #100,000 was charged to each school that didn't meet up. Good for them. Good for them?

The kick here is the CASS registration done for the kids when they concluded SS1 class and SS2 class is a requirement for them to partake in WASSCE exams for School Candidates. Fair enough.

A shocking decision handed down today has left many schools shocked. WAEC announced that any single correction for each candidate's error at all would attract #5,000.

'Kadijat' would pay #5,000 to correct her name to 'Khadijat.'
But if Khadijat put Abosede as her first name and Khadijat as her other name instead of the other way round, it would cost her #10,000 to put Abosede and Khadijat in their respective places. And if Khadijat got her surname mixed up too, or missed a letter in each, it'll cost her #15,000 to own her name back.

And if Khadijat wanted to add any subject she didn't do before, Khadijat would pay #5,000 per subject. A change of department would cost Khadijat nothing less than #20,000 with the new WAEC directives.

Like seriously?? How do we keep a straight face to a potential #40,000 fee for correction of errors for a single candidate??

Just last year, every single one of these corrections is done for free in the offline module. And they could all be entirely done for a one-time payment of #5,000 for the duration of the examination.

WAEC absolutely failed to realize that as at S.S.1, some children don't even know their official names as they adopt even their pet names or shortened names as their common names. I remember speaking with a kid who got reunited with her biological parents in December; she may have to pay heavily to bear the family name anytime soon.

WAEC also failed to realize that students can swap departments if they fail to measure up or show better ability elsewhere. But there is no room to edit subjects after SS1 in CASS so students can be stuck with subjects they can't write.

Finally, WAEC by these decisions, have on one hand exercised their exclusive decision making as a private organization and on the other hand shown some disconnect with the error-prone reality of 14-year olds and how students may swap departments as necessary.

I think every concerned body and stakeholder need to speak up against this absurdity. The fact that we can't correct their baby-steps errors anymore is quite a shock on it's own; not to add that the #5000 is now considered too insignificant for the kids to learn their lessons; in a pro-COVID era.

I struggle to come to terms with the rationale behind this decision. It is understandable that profit must be made but come on.. This is absurd. In the very first year of integrating CASS with WASSCE registration and all these sanctions imposed; not at the start of the CASS registration process but on the eve of the examinations proper. Talk about kids walking into a trap.