WAEC warns against extortion of candidates by schools, supervisors

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued a stern warning to school officials and examination supervisors over alleged extortion of candidates during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The council noted that it has received reports of illegal demands for payments under various guises, including fees for transporting examination scripts, welfare packages, and unauthorised “cooperation” charges.

In a statement released on Monday through its Public Affairs Department, WAEC also revealed that some schools have been charging candidates for KAPEK calculators which the council provides free of charge. The examination body described these practices as illegal, unethical, and a direct threat to the integrity of the examination.

WAEC directed all school proprietors, principals, supervisors, and invigilators to immediately cease all forms of unauthorised money collection from candidates or parents. It declared that no such collections would be tolerated and urged stakeholders to report any extortion attempts to zonal coordinators or through designated official channels.

The council also warned against any intimidation or harassment of candidates, stating that schools or officials found guilty would face severe sanctions, including derecognition, blacklisting, prosecution, and referral to relevant authorities for disciplinary action.

WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the credibility of its assessments and protecting students. Despite challenges, including logistical issues and a fatal accident involving its officials that had caused delays in some papers, the council said it remains focused on the smooth conduct of the examination.

The ongoing 2026 May/June WASSCE for school candidates, which started on April 21, is scheduled to end on June 19, 2026.