The government of Cameroon has acknowledged a significant debt owed to teachers, totaling 616 million CFA francs. This debt, accumulated by the Baccalaureate Office (OBC), stems from unpaid travel allowances for examiners, anonymizers, and center supervisors.
According to a government statement released on March 26, the debt resulted from tax deductions imposed by the Directorate General of Taxes on exam-related payments.These payments are legally exempt from withholding. The government has assured that steps are being taken to rectify the situation and reimburse the wrongly withheld funds.
This development follows a previous admission by the OBC in February 2022 of a 1.4 billion CFA franc debt to teachers from the 2021 exam session. The OBC attributed the ongoing financial issues to “a systemic inability to plan ahead,” citing uncertainties in candidate numbers, personnel requirements, and available funding.
In a separate development, the government addressed outstanding payments to teachers by the General Certificate of Education Board (GCE Board), pledging that disbursements would commence on March 31, 2025. The statement also recommended a review of assessment procedures for the Baccalaureate and GCE Advanced Level exams to alleviate financial strain.
The government’s acknowledgment of the debt and pledge to reimburse teachers is a positive step towards resolving the issue. However, the underlying systemic issues that led to the debt must be addressed to prevent similar situations in the future..