Parents Decry Rising WAEC Charges in Rivers State Schools

 

Parents of students sitting for the ongoing West African Examinations Council examinations in Rivers State have expressed growing frustration over what they describe as excessive charges imposed by some secondary schools for each examination subject.

Several parents across different parts of the state alleged that schools are demanding additional payments beyond the officially approved examination fees, placing heavy financial pressure on families already struggling with the country’s rising cost of living. According to some guardians, the charges are being collected on a per-subject basis, with students who registered for more subjects paying significantly higher amounts.

👉 KEY COMPLAINTS FROM PARENTS

Many parents complained that the development has become a serious burden, especially for households with multiple children in secondary school. Some argued that the fees were introduced without proper explanation, while others questioned the transparency of how the funds are being utilized by the schools.

A parent in Port Harcourt lamented that education is gradually becoming unaffordable for average families, noting that aside from tuition fees, transportation, textbooks, uniforms, and lesson charges, parents are now being compelled to pay additional examination-related levies. Another guardian described the situation as “exploitative,” urging the government and education authorities to investigate the matter.

Education stakeholders have also raised concerns that excessive financial demands on candidates could discourage students from fully participating in examinations or force some parents into debt. They warned that such practices may widen the gap between students from wealthy backgrounds and those from low-income families.

Meanwhile, some school administrators have defended the charges, explaining that the funds are meant to cover logistics, invigilation arrangements, practical materials, administrative costs, and other examination-related expenses. However, many parents insist that the fees remain too high and should be regulated.

Concerned residents are now calling on the Rivers State Ministry of Education and relevant education authorities to establish clearer guidelines on examination charges in both public and private schools. They believe proper monitoring and transparency would help protect parents from arbitrary levies while ensuring students can focus on their examinations without unnecessary financial stress.

The situation has once again highlighted the broader concerns surrounding the cost of education in Nigeria, as families continue to grapple with economic hardship and inflation.