The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued a stern warning to school proprietors and supervisors against extorting candidates via illegal levies like calculator fees and welfare packages.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued an uncompromising warning to school administrators, supervisors, and invigilators nationwide to immediately halt the illegal extortion of candidates sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The apex regional examination body described the systemic collection of unauthorized levies as both highly unethical and criminal.
The directive was contained in an official statement released Monday by the council’s Public Affairs Department in Yaba, signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Mrs. Moyosola Adesina.
According to the council, credible intelligence reports have unmasked several instances where school authorities and external supervisors forced candidates to pay illegal fees. These extortions are reportedly hidden under the guise of “script transportation levies,” “invigilator welfare packages,” and arbitrary “administrative charges.”
Furthermore, WAEC expressed deep concern over fraudulent reports indicating that certain schools are forcing students to pay separate fees for the branded KAPEK calculators. The council categorically clarified that these mathematical tools are fully covered under the initial registration logistics and are supplied entirely free of charge to all candidates nationwide.
“No harassment or intimidation of candidates in any form will be tolerated. Immediate reports of any extortion attempt should be made to the Zonal Coordinator or Branch Controller, or via publicaffairs@waec.org.ng and hnowaeclagos@yahoo.co.uk,” the council stated.
The examination body emphasized that unchecked grassroots corruption undermines the hard-earned credibility of the regional assessment system and severely erodes public trust in international educational certifications.
To curb this trend, WAEC has ordered all state proprietors, principal officers, and field invigilators to immediately freeze any collection of money from candidates or parents on behalf of examination officials.
The council warned that any school or individual caught violating these guidelines will face severe punitive sanctions. Penalties will include the immediate derecognition of the offending school center, permanent blacklisting of supervisors, criminal prosecution, and formal referral to national disciplinary disciplinary panels.
WAEC urged parents, guardians, and the general public to actively protect candidates by reporting extortion attempts directly to designated Zonal Coordinators and Branch Controllers across the federation to ensure a transparent, stress-free academic assessment environment.
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