Discontentment is simmering among examiners for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Board in Cameroon, with many questioning the delayed payment of outstation allowances.
A teacher and examiner who wished to remain anonymous spoke to MMI, expressing the concerns of themselves and their colleagues. “With just two weeks until the next session,” they said, “we haven’t received our allowances from the last marking session. Teachers travel from across the country to Buea, facing various risks, only to find basic allowances outstanding.”
The source highlighted the financial burden placed on examiners. “Who are we supposed to complain to?” they asked. “What happens if we refuse to participate? Would the board resort to unqualified individuals to mark these crucial exams?”
They pointed out the seemingly contradictory payment schedule. “Students pay for each exam session,” they noted, “and the government clearly allocates funds to the board. Yet, there’s a disparity in payments, with Advance Level examiners receiving compensation before Ordinary Level counterparts. Are these exams administered or graded differently?”
The core question for many examiners remains unanswered: “Where does the allocated money go? Is it being misappropriated instead of being directed to those who do the actual work?”
The source expressed deep frustration. “It’s disheartening to see our hard work benefit others while we struggle to get paid.” They added, “Some might suspect language politics if the Minister were francophone, but our current Minister is anglophone, and the issue persists.”
The recent GCE exam paper leaks further eroded trust in the board. “How can we be confident in the credibility of exams that consistently leak?” the source questioned.
The message concluded with a plea for urgent action. “We sincerely hope this reaches the President,” they said. “These issues require immediate attention and resolution.”
The GCE board is yet to comment on these allegations. MMI will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
