WAEC Warns Schools, Supervisors Against Extorting WASSCE Candidates

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued a stern warning to school officials and examination supervisors over alleged extortion of candidates during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), citing illegal charges for script transportation, welfare packages and unauthorised "cooperation" fees. The warning was contained in a statement issued Monday by WAEC's Public Affairs Department, signed by Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina. According to the statement, the Council has received reports of supervisors and schools demanding payments from candidates and parents under various pretexts, including cases where candidates were charged for KAPEK calculators that WAEC already supplies free of charge. WAEC condemned these practices in strong terms, describing them as "illegal, unethical, and a direct threat to the integrity of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination." The Council directed all school proprietors, principals, supervisors and invigilators to immediately halt any unauthorised collection of money from candidates or their parents, stating plainly that "no collection of money from candidates or parents for any examination official" would be tolerated. It urged stakeholders to report any extortion attempts to zonal coordinators or through official communication channels. The Council also cautioned against any form of intimidation or harassment of candidates, warning that schools or officials found culpable could face serious sanctions, including derecognition, blacklisting, prosecution, and referral to relevant authorities for further disciplinary action. WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the credibility of its examinations and safeguarding students from exploitation. Despite these concerns, WAEC said it remains focused on ensuring the smooth conduct of the exam and is working to strengthen logistics to prevent further disruptions. The Council had earlier acknowledged that the ongoing WASSCE faced operational setbacks, including delays to some papers linked to logistical issues and a fatal accident involving its officials.