Keeping exams within reach of every child

The Federal Government's decision to suspend the proposed increase in registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations is a welcome move. This decision demonstrates a keen awareness of public sentiment and the harsh economic conditions impacting Nigerian families.

Across Nigeria, households are grappling with escalating costs for essential goods and services. The removal of fuel subsidies and other economic reforms, while potentially beneficial in the long term, have significantly reduced disposable income. Imposing higher examination fees would have added an unfair and insensitive financial burden on parents already struggling to meet basic needs.

Education is a fundamental right and a critical driver of national development. Every child who completes secondary education and earns the necessary qualifications has the potential to contribute to economic growth and social stability. Public policy must prioritize removing obstacles to education, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent deserving students from pursuing their academic goals.

For many families, especially those in rural areas and low-income urban settings, the suspended fee increase threatened to block access to essential certification. It would have been a profound injustice for students to complete their secondary education only to be denied certification due to prohibitive exam costs. The government's role in public education is to foster an educated populace, not to maximize revenue. Funding gaps should be addressed through budgetary allocations and efficient management, not by shifting the burden onto parents.

Nigeria already faces a significant challenge with millions of out-of-school children. Policies that increase the cost of education risk exacerbating this crisis, deepening inequality, and widening the divide between the privileged and the disadvantaged. The suspension of the fee increase is a victory for common sense, and the government must ensure this measure is permanent, not a temporary reprieve.