The cost of certification: Can Nigerian families still afford WAEC and NECO?

Making certification affordable without compromising quality
The debate should not be reduced to choosing between affordable examinations and sustainable examination bodies. Both objectives are important and achievable.

There is little doubt that WAEC and NECO require adequate funding to maintain examination integrity, improve technology, strengthen security and minimise malpractice. Underfunded examination systems ultimately undermine the credibility of the certificates they issue.

However, sustainable funding should not come at the expense of access.

One practical option is expanding targeted subsidies rather than universal fee reductions. Instead of subsidising every candidate regardless of economic background, governments could identify indigent students through transparent social protection mechanisms and pay examination fees on their behalf.

Several state governments have successfully adopted similar interventions in previous years by sponsoring WAEC or NECO registration for students in public schools. Strengthening such initiatives could help cushion the impact of higher fees on vulnerable families.

Another possibility is introducing structured payment arrangements. Rather than requiring parents to pay the full amount at once, examination bodies and schools could explore instalment payment systems that allow families to spread costs over several months before registration deadlines.

Corporate organisations, alumni associations and development partners also have roles to play. Scholarship schemes specifically targeted at examination registration could ensure that financial hardship does not prevent academically capable students from completing secondary education.

At the policy level, education financing requires broader reforms. Governments must continue investing in public education, improving school infrastructure, recruiting qualified teachers and strengthening technical and vocational education. Equally important is ensuring that examination fees are reviewed transparently, with adequate consultation involving parents, school proprietors, teachers, student organisations and education experts.

Open dialogue helps build public confidence and allows policymakers to consider alternative funding models before implementing significant cost increases.

Ultimately, secondary school certification should remain accessible to every Nigerian child who has successfully completed years of learning, regardless of economic background.

Education is not merely another household expense. It is a long-term investment in national development. Every student who completes secondary school, acquires recognised certification and proceeds to higher education or skilled employment contributes to the country’s social and economic progress.

If examination fees continue rising without corresponding improvements in household incomes or stronger financial support mechanisms, Nigeria risks creating a situation where academic ability matters less than financial capacity.

A society where only those who can afford certification can fully access educational opportunities weakens the very principle of equal opportunity upon which national development depends.

The challenge before policymakers is therefore not simply balancing examination budgets. It is ensuring that the cost of earning a certificate never becomes the final obstacle standing between a hardworking student and a better future.