The Federal Government has sparked fresh outrage after approving a steep increase in the cost of secondary school examinations, fixing a new uniform fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting the WAEC and NECO Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) from 2027.
The new rate represents an alarming 82 per cent jump from the current N27,500, raising serious concerns about affordability for millions of Nigerian families already grappling with rising living costs.
The decision was disclosed in a June 18 statement signed by Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, following a request by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for an upward review of fees.
According to the ministry, the increase was finalised after a March 31, 2026 meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies, where officials agreed on the need to review examination charges and impose a uniform fee structure for both WAEC and NECO.
However, critics say the move places an additional financial burden on already struggling households, potentially shutting out thousands of students from accessing basic education milestones.
“You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Honourable Minister of Education on 31 March, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fees was discussed, the Honourable Minister directed that WAEC and NECO should adopt a uniform fee,” the statement read.
It added that the minister had approved “the sum of fifty thousand naira (N50,000.00) only” as the new fee per candidate, effective from the 2027 NECO SSCE (Internal).
While the government frames the decision as a step toward standardisation and sustainability of examination processes, education stakeholders warn it could deepen inequality in access to education, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds.
Observers note that the policy risks widening the gap between public and private school students, with many families now forced to reconsider whether they can afford to register their children for critical national examinations.
As the implementation date approaches, pressure is expected to mount on the government to provide clarity on support measures—or face growing backlash over what many see as a policy that prioritises system costs over student access.
