St. Joseph Catholic Grammar School debunks alleged illegal WAEC fees

The management of St. Joseph Catholic Grammar School, Idanre, Ondo State, has dismissed allegations of illegal collection of WAEC fees, describing the claims as misleading and without factual basis.

The school’s Principal, Dr. Adegbite Abayomi, made this clarification in a press statement made available to Democrat News Magazine in Akure on Monday, February 9, 2026, insisting that the institution operates strictly in line with government-approved financial regulations.

According to Abayomi, the school collects only authorised charges, explaining that what some parents misconstrued as illegal fees was merely the consolidation of already approved payments during the WAEC registration period.

He noted that the arrangement was introduced for convenience, stressing that experience had shown that payments not completed before or during WAEC registration often became difficult, if not impossible, to recover afterwards.

The principal added that parents willingly embraced the bulk payment system, particularly as the period coincides with peak farming and cocoa trading seasons in the community, when most parents have better access to funds.

Abayomi maintained that transparency remains central to his administration, stressing that no unauthorised levy was imposed on either students or parents. “Our goal has always been to ease the burden on parents while ensuring full compliance with government directives,” he said.

Corroborating the principal’s position, the Parent-Teacher Association Chairman for both the school and the local government, Pastor Akinmuyisitan Emmanuel, confirmed that the state government, through the Commissioner for Education, had issued clear directives warning school heads against illegal collections, a stance also reinforced by the leadership of ANCOPSS.

He disclosed that the only WAEC fee officially remitted to government was ₦7,000, adding that other payments made into separate accounts were legitimate and approved charges such as TOTEM, cloud services, identity cards and standard school fees.

Emmanuel further explained that Idanre is a unique farming community where parents traditionally prefer one-time payments due to seasonal income patterns, noting that missing that payment window often results in prolonged indebtedness.

He commended the Commissioner for Education for his proactive leadership and expressed confidence that school principals across the state would continue to uphold discipline and integrity in line with government policy, adding, “I believe no principal will misbehave under this present administration.”