The Federal Ministry of Education is working to curb arbitrary increases in examination fees charged by schools ahead of the 2027 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has disclosed.
The newly appointed Head of WAEC’s National Office in Nigeria, Suleiman Danlami Kum, said the ministry was taking steps to address complaints that some schools charged students more than the approved examination fees.
Kum made this known on Saturday while speaking with journalists during an inspection of the ongoing 2026 WASSCE for Private Candidates, Second Series.
He clarified that WAEC had yet to release the entry details for the 2027 May/June examination but assured candidates and parents that the Federal Ministry of Education was working to prevent schools from imposing arbitrary charges.
“We know in the past that schools have been charging more than the examination fee. But I want to tell you that the Federal Minister of Education is not just sitting down,” he said.
Kum added that measures were being taken to check schools that increased examination fees without proper justification.
The WAEC official’s remarks come amid concerns over additional charges imposed on students preparing for the next May/June WASSCE.
Although some schools have reportedly collected amounts above the approved examination fees, Kum said the council had not yet opened entries for the 2027 examination.
He expressed confidence that the education ministry’s intervention would help address the situation and prevent arbitrary fee increases.
Kum recently assumed office as head of WAEC’s National Office in Nigeria, succeeding Dr Amos Dangut, who was appointed the council’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer.
Providing an update on the ongoing 2026 WASSCE for Private Candidates, Second Series, Kum disclosed that more than 56,000 candidates had registered for the examination nationwide.
He said approximately 272 candidates registered through the walk-in arrangement, which allows eligible candidates to register for selected subjects after the main registration window has closed.
Lagos State accounted for more than 22,000 candidates participating in the examination, according to the WAEC official.
He explained that the private-candidate examination provides an opportunity for people seeking to improve their previous results to retake specific subjects without necessarily registering for the entire examination again.
WAEC Defends Computer-Based Examinations
Kum also expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the ongoing examination, describing computer-based testing (CBT) as an important step towards improving examination security and reducing malpractice.
He said WAEC began introducing computer-based examinations in 2024 and had continued to refine the system.
“CBT has come to stay,” he declared, maintaining that the approach had improved examination administration and helped limit malpractice.
The WAEC national office head added that candidates underwent security checks before entering examination halls to prevent prohibited materials from being brought inside.
He explained that male officials searched male candidates, while female officials searched female candidates.
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According to Kum, the procedure was intended to safeguard the credibility of the examination rather than deliberately catch candidates who might unknowingly carry prohibited items.
Kum reaffirmed WAEC’s commitment to conducting credible examinations and adopting improved methods to strengthen its operations.
He also urged candidates preparing for upcoming examinations to study diligently and practise with WAEC past questions and answers to improve their readiness.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education’s proposed intervention is expected to address concerns over excessive school-imposed charges ahead of the 2027 May/June WASSCE.