𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢: 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗜𝗞𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗪𝗔𝗘𝗖 𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗦: 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗠 𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗧'𝗦 '𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡' 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠, 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗘𝗖 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟𝗦.

𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢: 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗜𝗞𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗪𝗔𝗘𝗖 𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗦: 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗠 𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗧'𝗦 '𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡' 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠, 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗘𝗖 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟𝗦.

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

9𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗘𝗕. 2026.

Angry parents in Ondo State have openly challenged the state government’s much-advertised free education policy, accusing public school authorities of running an underground system of extortion, illegal levies, and financial exploitation under the guise of WAEC registration.

The parents raised the alarm on Sunday during a live current affairs programme aired on Fresh FM 102.9, Akure, where several callers narrated what they described as a well-organised racket operating within government-owned secondary schools.

According to them, principals and school administrators are allegedly turning WAEC registration into a money-making venture, forcing parents to pay tens of thousands of naira despite repeated government claims that WAEC fees for public school students are covered.

One of the aggrieved parents, Mr. Akinniyi from Idanre, revealed that he paid a total of ₦36,000 into four different bank accounts for WAEC-related charges for his child.

He said his child attends St. Joseph’s High School, Idanre, and when he confronted the school principal over the high and multiple payments, he was allegedly issued a harsh ultimatum.

According to him, the principal reportedly told him to withdraw his child if he could not comply.

“As far as I am concerned, there is no free education in Ondo State public schools. The principals and the Ministry of Education are sabotaging the system,” Akinniyi lamented.

He questioned the sincerity of the government’s policy, insisting that what exists in reality is free education in name only.

“I am a parent. I have already paid ₦36,000 for my child preparing to write WAEC. So where is the free education the government is talking about?” he queried.

Another Parent Reports ₦35,000 Levies in Akure"

Another caller, Mr. Adeola, also expressed outrage, stating that he paid about ₦35,000 in different WAEC-related levies for his child at Baptist High School, Akure.

Adeola said the payments were demanded despite repeated government assurances that WAEC registration for public school students is free.

The complaints have further fuelled public anger, with many residents describing the situation as institutionalised extortion allegedly thriving unchecked across public secondary schools in the state.

Critics argue that the practice not only undermines the credibility of government policies but also exposes the education sector to corruption, intimidation, and administrative abuse.

Observers have now called on the Ondo State Ministry of Education to urgently investigate the allegations, warning that failure to act could deepen distrust and worsen the burden on struggling parents already grappling with economic hardship.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ministry of Education and affected school authorities have yet to issue an official response to the allegations.