Government pledges to repay FCFA 616 million to Baccalaureate examiners

The government has acknowledged a debt of FCFA 616 million owed to teachers by the Baccalaureate Office (OBC), resulting from unpaid travel allowances for examiners, anonymizers, and center supervisors.

This announcement follows discussions with education unions and a statement released on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

According to officials who preferred not to be named, the debt stems from tax deductions imposed by the Directorate General of Taxes on exam-related payments, which are legally exempt from withholding.

The Minister of Secondary Education, Prof. Nalova Lyonga through the government has assured that steps are being taken to rectify the situation and reimburse the wrongly withheld funds.

This development comes after the OBC admitted FCFA 1.4 billion debt to teachers from the 2021 exam session in February 2022. OBC Director Étienne Roger Minkoulou attributed the ongoing financial issues to a lack of planning ahead, citing uncertainties in candidate numbers, personnel requirements, and available funding.

In a separate move, the government addressed outstanding payments to teachers by the General Certificate of Education Board (GCE Board), pledging to commence disbursements on March 31, 2025.

The statement also recommended reviewing assessment procedures for the Baccalaureate and GCE Advanced Level exams to alleviate financial strain.

BY A CORRESPONDENT

Minister of Secondary Education, Prof. Pauline Nalova Lyonga

Minister of Secondary Education, Prof. Pauline Nalova Lyonga with collaborators