The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued a strong warning to schools and examination supervisors over alleged cases of extortion involving candidates sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
WAEC described the reported practices as illegal and unethical, warning that they could undermine the credibility of the examination process.
In a statement released on Monday, the council said it had received complaints that some candidates were being compelled to pay unauthorised fees under various pretexts, including transportation of scripts, welfare contributions, and so-called “cooperation” charges.
The body also expressed concern over reports that some schools were charging students for KAPEK calculators already provided free of charge by WAEC.
It stressed that such actions would not be tolerated, adding that any schools or officials found guilty risk strict sanctions.
WAEC warned that offenders could face derecognition of schools, blacklisting of supervisors, prosecution, or other disciplinary measures in line with its regulations and applicable laws.
The council urged all schools, supervisors, and examination officials to desist from any form of illegal financial demands and encouraged parents and candidates to report any cases of extortion.
WAEC reaffirmed that candidates should not be subjected to additional charges beyond approved examination requirements.
The warning comes amid reports of operational and security challenges affecting the ongoing WASSCE, including delays in some examination papers due to logistics issues and insecurity in parts of the country.
The council also confirmed the death of three of its staff members in a road accident while transporting examination materials, describing the incident as a tragic loss.
Despite the challenges, WAEC assured stakeholders of its commitment to ensuring the smooth conduct of the examination and called for cooperation from all parties involved.
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