WAEC Condemns Illegal Cooperation Fees Orders Schools to Stop Extortion

WAEC has warned schools, principals, supervisors, and invigilators against extorting WASSCE candidates through illegal fees and unauthorized charges, vowing strict sanctions for offenders.

The West African Examinations Council has warned school officials and examination supervisors against alleged extortion of candidates, including illegal fees for transportation of scripts, welfare packages and unauthorised “cooperation” charges during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

The warning was contained in a statement on Monday issued by the Public Affairs Department and signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina.

WAEC said it had received reports that some supervisors and schools were demanding payments from candidates and parents under various pretexts, adding that it had also identified cases where schools charged candidates for KAPEK calculators already provided free by the Council.

The examination body condemned the practices, 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 stop all forms of unauthorised collection of money from candidates or parents.

It stated that “no collection of money from candidates or parents for any examination official” would be tolerated, while also urging stakeholders to report any extortion attempt to zonal coordinators or via designated official communication channels.

WAEC also warned against intimidation or harassment of candidates, adding that schools or officials found culpable would face sanctions including derecognition, blacklisting, prosecution and referral to relevant authorities for disciplinary action.

Reaffirming its commitment to examination integrity, the Council said it remained focused on safeguarding the credibility of its assessments and protecting students.

Meanwhile, WAEC said it remains committed to ensuring the smooth conduct of the examination despite the challenges, adding that efforts were ongoing to strengthen logistics and prevent future disruptions.

The Council previously said the ongoing WASSCE had faced operational challenges, noting that some papers were delayed due to logistical issues and a fatal accident involving its officials.

The 2026 May/June WASSCE for school candidates, which began on April 21, is scheduled to end on June 19, 2026.