A Non-Governmental Organisation, Exam Ethics Marshals, has called on parents across Nigeria to stand against the illegal levies being imposed on students by some schools.
The founding Chairman of Exam Ethics Marshals International, Ike Onyechere made this call during a media briefing in Abuja. He expressed concern that these illegal charges are often used to fund exam malpractices and the personal gains of school owners, which ultimately hinder students’ development and threaten the future of the children and the nation.
Onyechere highlighted that both Federal and State Governments have banned these illegal levies, which take the form of exam administration charges (above amounts stipulated by exam boards), CBT fees, scratch cards, PTA contributions, handouts, past questions, and cultural day fees, among others.
He urged parents to resist paying these illegal fees and enforce the government’s ban, which has been in place since 2016. He explained that these levies, on top of regular school fees, become an additional financial burden on parents, erode the integrity of the education system, and contribute to the criminalisation of education.
“The clarion call is for parents of pupils and students in public and private primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions to rise up and support the enforcement of the government’s ban on illegal levies. These levies are fueling the criminalization of the education system,” Onyechere said.
He also warned that the imposition of such levies is contributing to the growing issue of Out-of-School Children, as many families cannot afford the exorbitant charges. “Some of the children you see on the streets, not in school, are there because of these levies,” he added.
Onyechere stressed the need for parents to be sensitised about the dangers these levies pose to their children and the country’s future. He explained that education should be about self-discovery, skill identification, and shaping a vision for life, but illegal levies distort this process and ultimately affect all sectors, from education to public service.
The group, which has been active in several African countries including Ghana, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Liberia since 1996, has been at the forefront of the fight against illegal levies used to fund criminal activities and profiteering in schools.
He pointed to the ongoing registration for the 2025 WAEC and NECO exams as an example. While the official registration fees for WAEC and NECO are N27,000 and N22,500 respectively, Exam Ethics Marshals’ investigations have revealed that many secondary schools charge an average of N85,000 for the two exams. Some schools even add N25,000 as a “logistic levy” for exam-related purposes, leading to the creation of “exam magic centers” or “miracle centers.”
Onyechere urged Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) to question such levies, discouraged parents from being gullible, and encouraged them to report illegal levies to the Federal Ministry of Education for appropriate action.
Comments are closed.