The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has cautioned school officials and examination supervisors against extorting candidates during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
According to the Council, reported cases of illegal charges including fees for transporting scripts, welfare packages, and unauthorized “cooperation” levies are unacceptable and must stop immediately.
The warning was issued in a statement released on Monday by the Public Affairs Department and signed by Moyosola Adesina, Head of Public Affairs.
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 earlier acknowledged that the ongoing WASSCE has faced operational challenges, noting that some papers were delayed due to logistical setbacks and a fatal accident involving its officials.
The 2026 May/June WASSCE for school candidates, which commenced on April 21, is scheduled to conclude on June 19, 2026.
