SSCE fee hike too high, says NAPTAN; NUT leaves decision to parents

By Adesina Wahab

The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has described the proposed increase in registration fees for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) as excessive.

Speaking with Vanguard, Chairman of NAPTAN’s Board of Trustees, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, said the increase was too steep, considering the financial burden already borne by parents.

“The increase is too high for our liking and acceptance. If the examination bodies are seeking an increase because of the rising cost of living, I think it should be gradual, perhaps not more than 25 per cent. What they are proposing is well above 75 per cent, and that is too much,” he said.

Ogunbanjo noted that parents already shoulder numerous educational and welfare expenses for their children and warned that the higher examination fee could prevent some final-year students from registering for the examinations.