There is relief for parents and students across Nigeria as the Federal Government has suspended the planned increase in registration fees for WAEC and NECO examinations.
The decision comes just days after widespread outrage trailed the proposed hike to N50,000 per candidate.
It will be recalled that the Federal Ministry of Education had given approval for the National Examinations Council, NECO and the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, to increase registration fee for their Senior Secondary Certificate Examination to N50,000 per candidate, beginning in 2027.
The announcement did not go down well with many Nigerians. Parents complained that they are already struggling with high cost of living. Students and education stakeholders also warned that the move could force many teenagers out of school.
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, was among the first to kick against the plan. The student body demanded an immediate reversal and described the fee as outrageous and a commercialisation of education. The group insisted on a more affordable amount not exceeding the status quo.
A former education commissioner also joined the call. He appealed to the President to see the hike as a dangerous development in the education sector and to cause same to be immediately reversed in the interest of the nation.
In Ebonyi and other states, government officials reported low registration numbers after the announcement. Private schools were also accused of using the opportunity to charge as high as N250,000 to N300,000 for the same examinations.
Faced with mounting pressure, the Federal Government has now put the plan on hold.
Sources in the Ministry of Education disclosed that the suspension was ordered to allow for wider consultation. The government wants to engage WAEC, NECO, state governments, parents and student groups before taking a final decision.
For now, the old fee regime remains. No candidate will pay the new N50,000 rate for the 2027 diet of the examinations until further notice.
Many parents have welcomed the development. They say education should not be priced beyond the reach of the average family, especially at a time when household incomes are under pressure.
Stakeholders are urging the government to go beyond suspension and look into the hidden charges by schools. They argue that even with official fees, some principals and private school owners inflate the cost in the name of administrative charges.
The Ministry is expected to issue a formal statement in the coming days to clarify the next steps and assure Nigerians that access to public examinations will remain affordable.
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