The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has elected a Gambian, Baboucarr Bouy as its new Governing Council Chairman. He emerged elected at the 66th Annual Meeting of the Council in Banjul, The Gambia.

With his election, Mr Bouy is the 19th Chairman of the sub-regional organisation. His election is for a three-year tenure in line with the Council’s Convention. He succeeds Dr. D. Evelyn S. Kandakai of Liberia, who was elected in March 2015.

EduCeleb.com reports that the Council, which is the governing board of WAEC, holds its yearly meeting in rotation among the five member countries, which are The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The meeting was held in 2017 in Nigeria and it will be the turn of Serra Leone to host in 2019 and Liberia in 2020.

A statement signed the Head of Public Affairs at the WAEC Headquarters in Ghana, Abiodun Aduloju indicated that the 66th Meeting, which was held from Monday, 19th to Friday, 23rd March 2018, was declared open by the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, who was represented by his deputy, Hajia Fatoumata Tambajang.

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In his keynote address, President Barrow welcomed the delegates to his country dubbed “the Smiling Coast of Africa”. Mr Aduloju quoted the Gambian leader as describing WAEC as a unique institution within the West African sub-region and the comity of assessment boards which had consistently played prominent roles in educational reforms and development in the member countries.

He added that Barrow expressed delight that the Council was set to conduct the maiden edition of the Gambia Basic Education Certificate Examination (GABECE) for Private Candidates in December 2018. That examination would offer a number of students the opportunity to further their education beyond Grade 9.

Government to pay examination fees
The President also reportedly disclosed that his government had taken over the payment of examination fees at both Basic and Secondary Education levels in The Gambia so as to expand access for all.

He gave the assurance that the fees would be remitted promptly to WAEC to guarantee quality service delivery.

He also assured the stakeholders that his government would fulfil its financial commitments to the Council despite the prevailing economic situation.

He decried the spate of malpractice in public examinations, adding that his government was collaborating with the Council to implement a number of measures against the evil.

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He then urged other member governments to maintain zero tolerance for examination fraud by relentlessly waging a war against the menace.
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