Private schools accuse WAEC of discrimination; Council rejects claims as “unfounded”
Accra, August 6, 2026 –
The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, and the Ghana National Association of Private Schools, GNAPS, are at odds over allegations of unfair treatment of private school candidates in the 2026 WASSCE registration and examination process.
At a press conference on Tuesday, GNAPS accused WAEC of discriminating against private schools in three key areas: registration fees, examination center allocation, and release of results.
The National President of GNAPS alleged that private school candidates are charged significantly higher fees than their public-school counterparts to write the same WASSCE, yet receive poorer logistical support.
“Why should a child in a private school pay double what a child in a public school pays for the same exam? This is discrimination, and it must stop,” he said.
The group also complained about the allocation of distant examination centers to private schools, and delays in the release of results and certificates. They further alleged that WAEC sometimes withholds the results of an entire private school due to malpractice involving a few candidates.
“One or two students cannot spoil the results of 200 innocent candidates. WAEC must adopt a more targeted approach,” the GNAPS leader added. The association has given WAEC a 30-day ultimatum to address the concerns.
WAEC RESPONDS
In a statement issued hours later, WAEC rejected the claims as “unfounded and misleading” and insisted that all candidates are treated equally.
WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, said the Council operates a uniform fee structure approved by its Governing Council and the Ministry of Education. “There is no policy that discriminates against private school candidates. All schools, public and private, pay the same approved fees,” he stated.
On the issue of distant centers, Mr. Kapi explained that allocation is based on candidate numbers, capacity, security, and availability of invigilators. He noted that private schools with small candidate numbers are sometimes merged with nearby centers.
Regarding withheld results, WAEC said delays are due to investigations into alleged examination malpractice and apply to both public and private schools. “Where results are withheld, it is because there is credible evidence of irregularity that requires further investigation,” the statement said.
WAEC urged school authorities to channel concerns through official channels instead of making public pronouncements that could cause anxiety.
GNAPS says it will meet with the Ministry of Education to present further evidence. The Ministry is yet to comment.
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