The West African Examinations Council, WAEC has issued a stern warning to schools, supervisors, and invigilators against the extortion of candidates sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, describing the practice as illegal and detrimental to the integrity of its examinations.
The examination body said it had received disturbing reports of candidates being compelled to pay various unauthorized charges under different pretexts, including transportation of examination scripts, welfare packages for examination officials, and so-called “cooperation fees.”
WAEC also expressed concern over reports that some schools were demanding payment from candidates for KAPEK calculators, despite the fact that the calculators had already been provided free of charge by the Council.
In a statement, WAEC condemned the practice, stating that such actions constitute unethical conduct and undermine efforts to maintain the credibility and fairness of the examination process.
“The Council has received alarming reports of supervisors and some schools extorting candidates under various pretexts. WAEC condemns these practices as illegal, unethical, and a direct threat to the integrity of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination,” the statement said.
To address the situation, WAEC directed all school proprietors, principals, supervisors, and invigilators to refrain from collecting any money from candidates or their parents on behalf of examination officials.
The Council also urged candidates, parents, and members of the public to report any cases of extortion to the appropriate authorities, including WAEC’s Zonal Coordinators and Branch Controllers, or through its designated email channels.
In addition, WAEC warned against any form of harassment, intimidation, or victimization of candidates during the examination period.
The Council stressed that any school or examination official found violating its directives would face severe sanctions, including derecognition, blacklisting, prosecution, and referral to relevant authorities for disciplinary action.
Reaffirming its commitment to upholding examination standards, WAEC said it remains dedicated to protecting the integrity of its examinations and safeguarding the future of Nigerian students.
The Council called on stakeholders in the education sector to support efforts aimed at ensuring a transparent, fair, and credible examination process for all candidates.
