The Overseas Examinations Commission (OEC) says it has been tasked by the Ministry of Education and Youth (MOEY) to disburse retroactive payments for School-Based Assessments (SBA) dating back to 2022.

OEC in a statement on Monday, May 20, said to date, 20 per cent of schools have been paid with an additional 40 per cent to be paid by the end of this week, taking the total to 60 per cent.

The commission says it is expecting that payments will be completed by early June this year.

“The OEC acknowledges the delays in these payments and assures teachers, schools, and stakeholders that the issue is being addressed with utmost priority. We are committed to resolving this matter promptly and will keep the public informed of any significant updates. Due to the necessity for meticulous verification of all payments, disbursements have been delayed. Consequently, payments have been extended into May and are expected to be completed by early June,” the OEC said.

The OEC said some schools have not submitted their data regarding the marking of SBAs or their claim for the marking of SBAs, and others were advised of corrections to be made as per submissions.

“Once schools flagged for corrections have made their amendments and other schools submit their outstanding SBA claim, a total of 40 per cent of schools would be scheduled for payment by early June 2024. The OEC will be providing updates to aid with tracking the progress of the scheduled payments,” the commission added.

It further noted that it will coordinate an extended effort to ensure all payments are completed within the stipulated timeframe.