WAEC Candidate Extortion: Council Warns Schools and Supervisors 

WAEC candidate extortion practices have officially triggered a major crackdown by the examination council, sending a clear message to school principals and exam officials across the country.

Finding out that your school or exam supervisor is demanding extra money for “welfare packages,” “script transit fees,” or even the official KAPEK calculators that should be completely free is incredibly frustrating. Many parents feel forced to pay these illegal fees out of fear that their children will be penalized during the exams, but the council is stepping in to put a definitive stop to it.

In this update, we will look into the official warning issued by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the severe penalties facing any institution caught cheating students.

If you want to know exactly what fees are legal, or how you can report your school anonymously without putting your exams at risk, keep reading as we break down everything you need to know.

WAEC Candidate Extortion: What Has WAEC Warned Schools And Supervisors About?

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has received reports that some supervisors and schools have demanded money from candidates under different pretexts and the Council has stated that such conduct is illegal, unethical and harmful to the integrity of WASSCE.

The Council expects all persons involved in the examination process to protect candidates from pressure, harassment or intimidation.

Which Payments Are Covered By The Warning?

WAEC’s warning covers any money requested from candidates or parents for examination officials, whether the payment is described as support, welfare, transport or “cooperation”.

The notice also covers demands for payment for KAPEK calculators, since WAEC has already provided the calculators at no cost to candidates.

Examples covered by the warning include:

• Money requested for transportation of scripts
• Money requested for welfare packages
• Unauthorised “cooperation” fees
• Charges for KAPEK calculators supplied by WAEC
• Any payment demanded on behalf of an examination official

What Must School Owners, Principals And Examination Officials Do?

WAEC has directed school proprietors, principals, supervisors and invigilators to comply with its examination directives, as the Council has placed candidate protection and examination integrity at the centre of this warning.

They are expected to ensure that:

• Money is not collected from candidates or parents for any examination official
• Extortion attempts are reported at once to the proper WAEC office
• Candidates are not harassed or intimidated in any form

These directives apply to all schools and examination centres concerned with the conduct of WASSCE.

How Should Extortion Attempts Be Reported?

Any attempt to extort candidates should be reported immediately to the Zonal Coordinator or Branch Controller.

Reports may also be sent to WAEC through:

publicaffairs@waec.org.ng

hnowaeclagos@yahoo.co.uk

Parents, candidates and school representatives are expected to give clear details of the demand, the person involved and the centre concerned, where such details are available.

What Sanctions Will Be Applied?

WAEC has stated that schools or officials found violating the directives will face strict sanctions.

The sanctions may include:

• Derecognition
• Blacklisting
• Prosecution
• Referral to relevant authorities for disciplinary action

The Council has made clear that any conduct which threatens the integrity of WASSCE will be treated as a serious breach.

What Should Candidates And Parents Know?

Candidates and parents should treat any demand for money under the listed pretexts as an extortion attempt, especially where the demand relates to scripts, welfare arrangements, “cooperation” fees or KAPEK calculators.

A candidate who is asked to pay for a calculator already supplied by WAEC should not treat the request as an official WAEC charge.

Why Is WAEC Issuing This Warning?

WAEC has stated that extortion of candidates threatens the integrity of its examinations and places unfair pressure on Nigerian children preparing for WASSCE.

The Council has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the integrity of its examinations and safeguarding the future of the Nigerian child.