The head of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Dale Gbotoe, has cautioned parents against paying “flexibility fees” for the upcoming West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE). In an interview on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, Mr. Gbotoe stated that the institution does not collect flexibility fees before or after the exams.
He urged parents to report any schools or individuals requesting flexibility fees, assuring them that appropriate action will be taken against such practices.
Mr. Gbotoe also expressed WAEC’s stance against students camping during the examination period in order to receive purported answers. He said, “While two or three family members can gather to study, we do not have a problem with that. However, there is no need for students to leave their homes from May 15, 2025, to June 10, 2025, which WAEC opposes.”
He added that if WAEC receives credible information regarding a specific school engaging in camping, the results of those schools will be canceled. This is unfortunate, considering the hard work put into the examination process. He encouraged parents not to allow their children to stay at unknown locations during this time.
Mr. Gbotoe mentioned that approximately 1,048 schools have registered, with 53,201 candidates scheduled to sit for the exam starting on May 15, 2025. He also indicated that there will be a reduction in the number of proctors, as some of them have contributed to mass failures among candidates. Proctors are responsible for monitoring and properly supervising the exams, and they must refrain from actions such as providing students with wrong answers or allowing the smuggling of foreign materials into the examination hall.
The WAEC boss warned proctors to adhere strictly to their terms of reference as outlined in their appointment letters and to act accordingly.
