The West African Examinations Council has issued a warning to school officials and examination supervisors against the illegal collection of fees from candidates during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination. In a statement released on Monday and signed by Moyosola Adesina, Head of Public Affairs, WAEC said it had received reports of schools and supervisors demanding unauthorised payments for transportation of scripts, welfare packages, and so-called "cooperation" charges. The Council confirmed that some schools had also charged candidates for KAPEK calculators, which it had already provided free of charge.
WAEC described such actions as illegal and unethical, warning they undermined the integrity of the examination. The Council directed all school proprietors, principals, supervisors and invigilators to cease any unauthorised collection of money from candidates or parents. It emphasized that no payment from candidates or parents for examination officials would be tolerated. Stakeholders were urged to report any attempt at extortion to WAEC's zonal coordinators or through official communication channels.
The Council warned that schools or individuals found guilty of such violations would face sanctions, including derecognition, blacklisting, prosecution, and referral to relevant authorities. WAEC reiterated its commitment to protecting the credibility of its assessments and ensuring the smooth conduct of the 2026 May/June WASSCE, which began on April 21 and is scheduled to end on June 19, 2026. The examination body noted ongoing logistical improvements despite earlier disruptions, including delayed papers and a fatal accident involving its officials.
Students and parents should not pay any additional fees beyond what is officially required, as WAEC has explicitly banned unauthorised charges. Any demand for money from school officials or supervisors should be reported immediately through WAEC's official channels to avoid penalties and protect examination integrity.
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