Katsina State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has warned all private and community schools against overcharging of WAEC and NECO fees in the state.

Abubakar Umar Matazu, the ministry’s Director of Private and Community Schools handed down this warning on behalf of the Commissioner in a letter signed and made available to newsmen in Katsina on Friday.

It stated that the ministry has noticed with dismay the overcharging trends in the schools across the state and would not fold its arms and watch parents and students being extorted.

“The ministry has noticed with dismay the way and manner some Private and Community Schools charge exorbitantly parents and students WAEC and NECO fees in the state”.

Henceforth, the letter however advised them to add a paltry 40 percent of the actual examination fees to meet up with their administrative charges.

“For this year 2024, WAEC and NECO fees are N27,000 and N25,250 respectively per candidate and therefore, the private and Community Schools should not exceed the sum of N37,800 and N35,350 for both exams in the state”.

Similarly, the ministry directed the schools against coercing their candidate to pay compulsorily for both exams, urging them to allow them to register for the examination of their choice.

While calling on the management of the Private and Community Schools to ensure strict compliance with the directive, the ministry however maintained that any reverse report against its directive would be met with stringent punitive measures. (Daily Independent)