Parents, school administrators and education stakeholders in Enugu State have welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed increase in registration fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
The Federal Ministry of Education on Monday suspended the planned increase following widespread criticism from parents, educators and the general public over the proposal to raise the examination fee from ₦27,000 to ₦50,000.
Reacting to the development, education analyst and school administrator, Mr. Benneth Edeh, described the suspension as a timely intervention, saying the proposed increase would have placed an additional financial burden on families already struggling with the high cost of living.
He argued that the proposed hike was excessive and urged the Federal Government not only to retain the current fee but also to consider reducing it to between ₦10,000 and ₦15,000 to make education more affordable and accessible.
Founder of Oasis of Knowledge Academy, Mr. Darlington Nweze, also commended the government’s decision, stressing that public education should be supported by government rather than transferring the full cost of examinations to parents.
Similarly, the Proprietor of Ultimate Royal School, Enugu, Mr. JohnPaul Ochi, said the suspension would protect children from low-income families from being denied the opportunity to sit for the examinations.
According to him, the existing examination fees, which range between ₦29,000 and ₦35,000, are already beyond the reach of many households.
A parent, Mrs. Amaka Okoro, also praised the Federal Government, describing the decision as compassionate and timely in view of the country’s economic challenges.
She noted that families with two or three children preparing for the examinations would have faced severe financial hardship if the proposed increase had been implemented.
The suspension has continued to attract positive reactions, with stakeholders urging the Federal Government to prioritise policies that make quality education more affordable and accessible for all Nigerian children.
