REPORTER: CHIKA KENNETH-ESONWUNE
The suspension of the proposed upward review of registration fees for the 2027 WASSCE and NECO Examinations by the Federal government has been generating reactions from Nigerians.
In a statement by the Director,Press,Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo,the Minister of Education,Dr. Maruf Alausa directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
Reacting,a parent,Mr Ojimmadu Ijoma applauded the withdrawal of the proposal describing it as sensitivity to the thoughts of the people.
Mr Ijoma who expects the government to come up with a progressive decision after negotiations explained that prevailing economic realities in the country should make any responsible Government to subsidise the cost of such important examinations instead of increasing it.
“The News of the suspension of the WAEC registration increment is very good.Im very happy.I was worried when I heard about the increment because two of my children will be writing WAEC next year.Government should subsidize the cost of the exam instead of increasing it”
Another parent,Mrs Kenechi Onuama urged the Federal government to completely rescind it’s decision to review the cost of registering for the examinations as such action would deter many willing students from.participating in the said examinations.
“It will be very harmful on Nigerians and government will appear to be playing deaf to people’s problems.The exam should be affordable for parents and students wiling to write it”
Mrs Onuama who described the suspension as a wise decision warned that any attempt to indirectly inflict more financial injuries on Nigerians would portray the present administration as paying lip service to common good.
A retired teacher who pleaded anonymity expressed as unfortunate the loss of interest in Education by successive administrations adding that no meaningful development can take place in a country that has no respect for it’s education sector.
According to the elderstateman,a government that spends millions in feeding school children should not complain about the cost of conducting serious examinations that will help in building intellectually fit individuals that will shapen the future of the country.
For his part,a corper,Obinna Ohazuruike opined that any form of increment in WAEC or NECO registration will increase the number of school dropouts warning that such development would be counter productive.
While commending the Federal government for the suspension of the proposal,the Corper who serves in a Secondary school told Radio Nigeria that many parents find it difficult to pay their wards school fees and wondered how they would handle an increment for an external examination.
“A lot of young people already believe that education is a scam.Pushing them away will reinforce that belief and we risk losing a generation of capable minds denied access to education”
The Federal government had on June 18 proposed a review of WAEC and NECO examinations registration cost from Twenty seven thousand five hundred naira to Fifty thousand naira with effect from next year.
