The Federal Government’s decision to increase the registration fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) has sparked concerns among education stakeholders over its potential impact on access to education.

The new fee, approved by the Federal Ministry of Education, raises the examination registration cost from ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 beginning with the 2027 examination cycle.

Education experts, labour groups and civil society organisations have warned that the increase could place an additional financial burden on families already grappling with rising living costs and inflation.

Stakeholders argued that the higher fees could prevent many students from low-income households from registering for the examinations, raising fears of increased school dropout rates and widening educational inequality.

Some groups have urged the Federal Government to reconsider the decision or introduce subsidies and targeted support for indigent students to ensure that access to secondary education is not compromised.

They also called for greater investment in the education sector and broader stakeholder consultations on policies affecting examination costs and access to education.