WAEC Cracks Down on Schools Extorting Candidates, Threatens Derecognition and Prosecution

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued a serious warning regarding the escalating problem of candidate extortion by certain schools and examination supervisors.

This practice, described as illegal and a direct threat to the integrity of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), has prompted the council to take a firm stand.

WAEC has received numerous reports detailing instances where candidates are compelled to pay unauthorized charges under various pretexts. These include fees for the transportation of examination scripts, so-called 'welfare packages,' and 'cooperation' fees.

Furthermore, the examination body highlighted cases where schools demand payment for KAPEK calculators, which are provided free of charge to candidates by the council. WAEC unequivocally condemns these actions as illegal, unethical, and detrimental to the examination process.

In response, WAEC has sternly warned all schools and supervisors involved in such exploitative practices to cease immediately. The council stressed that any individuals or institutions found engaging in these illegal activities will face severe sanctions.

These penalties include, but are not limited to, the derecognition of schools, blacklisting of offenders, prosecution, and referral to relevant authorities for further disciplinary action, underscoring the council's commitment to upholding examination integrity.

Beyond the issue of extortion, WAEC has also acknowledged significant operational challenges that have impacted the ongoing WASSCE.

The council reported delays in conducting some examination papers, attributing these to prevailing security and logistical hurdles. These challenges have necessitated the activation of emergency measures to ensure the examinations proceed in affected regions.

A particularly tragic incident highlighted by WAEC wasa road accidentthat claimed the lives of three dedicated personnel who were transporting sensitive examination materials interstate.

This loss underscores the risks involved in ensuring the smooth conduct of national examinations.

Additionally, prevailing security issues, including protests related to the abduction of schoolchildren in various parts of the country, further complicated the timely delivery of examination materials. WAEC extended its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased staff members.