The Federal Government has approved a major increase in the registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), raising the cost to ₦50,000 per candidate from the 2027 examination cycle.
The decision has sparked concerns among parents, students, and education stakeholders, many of whom fear the higher fee could make it more difficult for some candidates to sit for the examinations.
According to an approval memo issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, and was obtained by vanguard News, the decision followed a meeting with examination bodies on March 31, 2026, where officials discussed the need for an upward review of examination fees.
The Minister of Education subsequently directed WAEC and NECO to adopt a uniform registration fee, resulting in the approval of ₦50,000 for both examinations from 2027.
Although the ministry did not provide a detailed breakdown of the reasons behind the increase, the move comes amid rising inflation and increasing operational costs affecting many public institutions. Education experts say higher expenses related to examination logistics, printing, security, technology, and administration may have influenced the decision.
Under the new policy:
- WAEC registration will increase from ₦27,000 to ₦50,000.
- NECO registration will increase from ₦30,000 to ₦50,000.
The new fee will apply to internal Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) candidates from 2027.
For many households, especially those with more than one child in secondary school, the increase represents a significant additional expense.
Parents in states where governments do not sponsor examination registration may have to bear the full cost, raising concerns that some eligible students could struggle to register on time.
Several state governments currently pay WAEC or NECO registration fees for students in public schools.
The higher registration fee could increase pressure on state education budgets, while states already owing examination bodies may face even larger financial obligations if adequate funding is not provided.
Education stakeholders believe some parents may begin choosing only one examination instead of registering their children for both WAEC and NECO to reduce costs.
If that happens, the policy could influence examination enrollment patterns, particularly among low-income families.
The approved ₦50,000 registration fee will take effect from the 2027 SSCE conducted by both WAEC and NECO.
As implementation approaches, many parents and education groups are expected to push for support measures, including subsidies or financial assistance, to ensure that no qualified student is denied the opportunity to complete secondary school because of financial challenges.