Post by Stephen Onuh Uwodi (@Enefuojo)

EDUCATION UNDER SIEGE: WHY INCREASING WAEC AND NECO FEES RISKS DEEPENING NIGERIA'S CRISIS

The reported plan by the Tinubu-led APC government to increase WAEC and NECO examination fees is yet another policy that appears disconnected from the harsh economic realities facing millions of Nigerians. At a time when inflation has eroded household incomes, food prices have soared, transportation costs have become unbearable, and many families are struggling to meet their basic needs, making secondary school examinations more expensive risks placing an additional burden on parents and students.

Education should be one of the last sectors where government shifts more financial pressure onto citizens. Instead of making it easier for children to complete their education, increasing examination fees could discourage many low-income families from registering their children for these critical examinations. For countless students, WAEC and NECO are not merely examinations; they are gateways to higher education, employment opportunities, and a better future. Pricing more students out of these opportunities could deepen inequality and reduce social mobility.

If examination costs become unaffordable, the consequences could extend beyond education. More young people may leave school without qualifications, increasing the number of out-of-school youths. Nigeria already faces significant challenges with school enrollment and completion. Any policy that further limits access to education should be carefully assessed because education is widely recognized as an important tool for reducing poverty, unemployment, and social instability.

Many Nigerians may also question the government's priorities. Citizens expect policies that ease the cost of living and expand access to quality education, not measures that could make educational attainment more difficult. A government committed to developing the country's human capital would ordinarily seek ways to subsidize examinations, improve public schools, strengthen teacher welfare, and invest in educational infrastructure rather than increasing the financial burden on struggling families.

This issue also raises broader questions about the role of government in protecting equal opportunity. When access to essential educational milestones depends increasingly on a family's financial capacity, there is a risk that education becomes less accessible for disadvantaged communities. Such an outcome would be at odds with the principle that every Nigerian child deserves a fair chance to succeed regardless of economic background.

Rather than increasing WAEC and NECO fees, the Federal Government should prioritize policies that reduce barriers to education. This could include expanding education funding, reducing waste, improving transparency in public spending, providing targeted support for vulnerable families, and ensuring that no qualified student is prevented from taking national examinations because of financial hardship.

The strength of any nation lies in the education of its young people. Policies that make education less affordable should be carefully reconsidered in light of their potential long-term effects on opportunity, economic development, and national stability.

Stephen Onuh Uwodi

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