The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued a stern warning to schools, principals, supervisors and invigilators against extorting candidates sitting for the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), describing the practice as illegal and a serious threat to the credibility of the examination process.
In a statement released on Monday through its Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, WAEC revealed that it had received several reports of candidates being forced to pay unauthorized fees under different pretexts, including transportation of examination scripts, welfare packages and so-called cooperation charges.
The examination body also condemned reports that some schools were demanding payment for KAPEK calculators that were provided free of charge to candidates. WAEC stressed that no candidate should be compelled to make any payment related to the conduct of the examination outside officially approved charges.
According to the council, school proprietors, principals, supervisors and invigilators must immediately stop collecting money from candidates or their parents for any examination-related purpose. It further urged candidates and members of the public to report cases of extortion and other unethical practices to its zonal coordinators, branch controllers or through designated official communication channels.
“WAEC condemns these practices as illegal, unethical and a direct threat to the integrity of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination,” the council stated.
The council warned that any individual or institution found engaging in such acts could face severe sanctions, including derecognition of schools, blacklisting, prosecution and referral to relevant authorities for disciplinary action.
The warning comes as the 2026 WASSCE for school candidates enters its final phase. The examination, which commenced with practical papers on April 21, is scheduled to conclude on June 19.
This year’s examination has recorded the participation of approximately 1.96 million candidates from over 24,000 schools across the country. WAEC noted that the examination also features an expanded computer-based testing model aimed at reducing examination malpractice and enhancing transparency in the assessment process.
The council assured stakeholders that measures have been put in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the remaining papers while maintaining high standards of fairness and credibility. It reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of the examination and ensuring that every candidate is assessed under a transparent and secure system.
WAEC had earlier cautioned candidates, supervisors and schools against involvement in examination malpractice, emphasizing that offenders would face strict penalties. The council’s latest warning follows growing concerns over allegations of extortion, logistical challenges and reports regarding the welfare of candidates in some examination centres.
As the examination draws to a close, WAEC has called on parents, schools and candidates to uphold honesty and accountability, stressing that safeguarding the integrity of the examination remains a collective responsibility.