Parents urged to support govt’s ban on illegal school levies

The Exam Ethics Marshals International, on Tuesday, called on parents to say no to all forms of illegal levies imposed by proprietors and heads of public and private schools in Nigeria. Founding Chairman of the Exam Ethics Marshals International, Ike Onyechere, made the call at a press briefing in Abuja, stating that payment of illegal […]

The Exam Ethics Marshals International, on Tuesday, called on parents to say no to all forms of illegal levies imposed by proprietors and heads of public and private schools in Nigeria.

Founding Chairman of the Exam Ethics Marshals International, Ike Onyechere, made the call at a press briefing in Abuja, stating that payment of illegal levies has, over the years, resulted in a foundational rot in the educational system.

Describing the nature of illegal levies in schools, Onyechere said primary, secondary and tertiary institutions introduce these fees in forms of exam administration levy above stipulated amounts by Exam Boards, CBT levy, ICT levy, scratch card levy, PTA levy, development levy, continuous assessment levy among many others.

He said the exam levy is the hallmark of ‘exam magic centres’ and ‘miracle centres’, adding that the extra amounts from the levies are usually shared by syndicate members.

“A case-in-point is the ongoing registration for 2025 WAEC and NECO exams. The registration for WAEC is N27,000 while that of NECO is N22,500. But Exam Ethics Marshals investigation indicates that secondary schools across the country are charging an average of N85,000 for the two exams. Some schools go further to add N25,000 logistic levy ‘to help the students pass’,” he said.

According to him, the illegal levies have developed into an organised criminal activity that sometimes involves ministry officials, private school proprietors, PTA officials, principals, lecturers, and non-teaching staff, among others.

Onyechere emphasised the dangers of such levies, saying that it would result in a systemic collapse of the moral infrastructure of education.

Onyechere however highlighted the differences between legal and illegal levies, explaining legal levies as those usually communicated to parents at the beginning of each session as part of the notice of fees for the new session with those that are optional being indicated.

He said that Ad hoc levies that are not part of the notice of fees are usually announced by the Federal Ministry of Education for Unity Schools; by State Ministries of Education for State Schools; and by proprietors of schools (or their designated representatives) for private schools.

“All legal levies are usually and specifically authorized in writing by the highest administrative authority of the school and widely communicated to all members of the school community,” he added.