By Nchendzengang Tatah
The Cameroon General Certificate of Education (GCE) Board took off marking of scripts for the 2025 on July 7. During the opening ceremony of the two-week-long exercise at the Bilingual Grammar School, Molyko – Buea, the GCE Board Chairman, Prof Ivo Leke Tambo, exhorted examiners and other stakeholders to give thought only to criticism that builds up the institution. The opening ritual was presided over by the South West Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai, represented by the Secretary General at the Governor’s Office, Gilbert Acha Nkwenti.
Prof. Leke expressed disapproval at those he said did not appropriately reflect over their proposals or present them to the right authority in the right manner. “The GCE Board will always be open to all types of criticism because it is criticism that makes the system strong. But please, do so humbly and respectfully,” he appealed.
Facts and figures
The GCE marking session is divided into 15 centres. Over 9000 examiners are to face over 2 million scripts of 213,378 candidates. Serving employment to over 4000 secretariat workers. Candidates in the 2025 GCE organised exams witnessed an increase of 17021 from 2024.
The Board chair assured the examiners that their allowances were going to be paid. He clarified that the Board had only owed teachers due to the socio-political conflict in the North West and South West, which has a severe impact on the GCE Board’s performance.
Call for vigilance
Gilbert Acha Nkwenti, in his address to launch the 2025 Marking Session, saluted the efforts of the examiners despite the challenges. He called for objectivity while carrying out their noble task in strict respect of the codes of merit. He charged the facilitators of the script evaluation process to apply vigilance to fish out candidates found wanting by fraud or other malpractices. Mr Nkwenti said this was going to ensure the standard of the examination is kept. “The nation is looking up to you,” he stated. The administrator further reminded the examiners to remain observant and take the needed actions to ensure their security during their stay.
