Niger: Lawmakers summon Commissioner for Education over high NECO, WAEC fees

Members of the Niger State House of Assembly have summoned the Commissioner for Education and the Director-General of the Private Schools Board to explain why private schools charge students exorbitant fees for WAEC and NECO in the state.

The lawmakers during plenary under the matter of urgent importance raised by the member representing Agwara, Bello Ahmad accused the private schools of exploiting parents.

Ahmad had revealed to the House that some private schools charge as high as between N250,000 to N300,000 per student to enable them to register for the final year examinations in the state.

According to him, the parents of the children are being exploited by the private schools the official fee for WAEC is N15,000 while for NECO is N11,000 adding that the fees charged by private schools bother on the exploitation of parents.

“It has been observed that private schools in the state surcharge students who sit for WAEC and NECO examinations. Some private schools charge as high as N250,000 to N300,000,” he explained.

Frowning at the development, the members noted that the private schools have failed in meeting their mandate of complementing the effort of the government in providing adequate education to Nigerlites.

Deliberating further, they resolved that the private schools no longer be allowed to overcharge parents on the examination fees, especially as the majority of the parents of the children are salary earners.

“We cannot allow the private schools to charge examination fees any. There is a need to regulate the maximum amount that should be paid as examination fees in private schools in the state,” they maintained.

Against this backdrop, the Legislators resolved that the State Commissioner for Education and the Director-General of the Private Schools Board be invited to explain to the House why private schools charge students so high for the two exams in the state.