The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has opposed the National Examination Council's (NECO) new policy of charging N50,000 for certificate reprints. NANS expressed its disapproval in a statement on Wednesday, calling the fee "outrageous" and an attempt to commercialize education.
This decision, announced by NECO's Registrar, Dantani Wushishi, on September 30, 2024, stated that the fee would apply to reprint requests made within a year of the original certificate issuance, and may be subject to future reviews.
NANS Senate Clerk, Abdulyekinn Odunayo, responded by saying that the fee is an unnecessary burden on students who are already facing economic hardships. He criticized NECO’s lack of consideration for the current struggles of Nigerian students.
Odunayo’s statement reads: “The N50,000 fee is unfair and places a heavy financial burden on students, many of whom are struggling to survive. This policy will increase financial exclusion, denying many students access to their certificates, and will disproportionately affect disadvantaged students.”
NANS called for an immediate reversal of the fee and demanded that NECO lower the cost to a more reasonable amount. The student body also urged NECO to extend the reprint request period to five years and include students in policy decisions to avoid unfair practices.
NANS concluded by reaffirming its commitment to advocating for affordable and accessible education, stating it would not stand by while students are being exploited through such policies.
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