Stakeholders sue WAEC over price, penalty increases

According to several private school owners and parents, the WAEC Board’s decision to raise examination fees was not communicated to schools and parents on time. 

While many schools and parents struggled to pay the higher costs, the examination organization announced the closing of registration and later levied a N5,000 penalty for late registration.  

The Lagos State Chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) publicly petitioned WAEC to waive the penalty costs, claiming that the registration process was hampered since most parents and schools were unprepared for the fee increase.   

While addressing to media on Friday at the Yaba, Lagos State office of the examination body under the auspices of Concerned Lagos Parents asked WAEC to recognize the difficult economic realities of the country and reduce the punishment.   

“The fact is that the majority of parents have yet to receive the actual fee.” “Adding the N5,000 penalty would deprive many students of the opportunity to pass the examination this year,” one of the parents, Mrs Bolade Giwa-Amu, told Journalist.   

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While school administrations initially received information from WAEC that registration had been extended until March 28, a letter dated March 23 signed by Dr Adunola Osoba, the Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator, WAEC, stated that registration, which closed at midnight on March 20, would be reopened on March 21 and closed on April 3, with a N5000 penalty for each candidate for late registration. 

“However, late registration with a penalty of five thousand naira’s (N5000) only per candidate began on Monday, March 21st, 2022, and will continue until midnight on Sunday, April 3rd, 2022.

According to the letter, candidates who purchased pins but did not submit them will also be charged a penalty price.”