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Tag: WAEC

  • JUST IN: WAEC releases 2017 May/June WASSCE results

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the May/June WASSCE results for this year.

    13.79% of the candidates that wrote the exams had their results withheld, while a 59.22% pass in English Language and Mathematics was recorded.

    Speaking at a press briefing held at its corporate office in Yaba, Lagos on Monday, Head of National Office, Nigeria, Mr Olu Adenipekun said the performance results recorded this year, was an improvement from the last two years.

    “A total of 923,486 (nine hundred and twenty-three thousand four hundred and eighty-six) candidates, representing 59.22%, obtained minimum of credits in five (5) subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics,” he said.

    Adenipekun explained that the results of 214,952 candidates are being withheld, in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice, which under investigation.

    A total of 1,559,162 candidates sat the examination.

    He added: “Out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, 1,471,151 (One Million Four Hundred and Seventy One Thousand One Hundred and Fifty One) candidates, representing 94.36% have their results fully processed and released, while 95,734 (ninety-five thousand seven hundred and thirty-four) candidates, representing 5.64% have a few of their subjects still being processed due to errors traceable to the candidates in the course of registration or writing the examination.

    “Such errors are being corrected by the Council to enable the affected candidates to get their results fully processed and released subsequently.

    In the analysis of the results, he said: “Of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, 1,490,356 (one million four hundred and ninety thousand three hundred and fifty-six) candidates, representing 95.59% obtained credits and above in two (2) subjects.

    “1,436,024 (one million four hundred and thirty-six thousand twenty-four) candidates, representing 92.44% obtained credits and above in three (3) subjects.

    “1,357,193 (one million three hundred and fifty-seven thousand one hundred and ninety-three) candidates, representing 87.05% obtained credits and above in four (4) subjects.

    “1,243,772 (one million two hundred and forty-three thousand seven hundred and seventy-two) candidates, representing 79.77% obtained credits and above in five (5) subjects.

    “1,084,214 (one million eighty-four thousand two hundred and fourteen) candidates, representing 69.54% obtained credits and above in six (6) subjects.”

    Candidates can check their results on the Council’s results website: www.waecdirect.org within the next few hours. The result checker PIN and Serial Number are contained on the flip side of the candidates’ CIVAMPENS Card issued to all candidates by WAEC.

  • Collect your certificates within 4 years or pay ‘custody fee’, WAEC warns candidates

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has urged GCE candidates to endeavour to collect their certificates within four years of writing the examination or pay extra custody fee.

    Demianus Ojijeogu, the Head of Public Affairs Department, WAEC, Nigeria disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

    The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates, commonly referred to as WAEC GCE, is usually taken in November/December every year.

    Mr. Ojijeogu said: “the normal charge for the certificate is N3, 500 and only payable by those whose certificates were issued between zero and four years.

    “But from five to nine years is N8, 500; 10 to 14 years N13, 500; 15 to 19 years N18, 500 while 20 years and above will be charged N23, 500.

    “These charges are (for) custody fee; for keeping the certificates for so long because it occupies space in our office. It will also serve as a deterrent to others.

    “I don’t know the reason why people will sit for exams and their certificates are ready yet they will not come for collection. What was the essence of the certificate in the first place?’’

    He also said that requirements for the collection of the GCE certificates within Nigeria were an application letter, sworn affidavit from the High Court, online result print- out, one passport-size photograph, photo card and identity card.

     

    NAN

  • Establish more schools for better performance, WAEC advises FG

    Establish more schools for better performance, WAEC advises FG

    The Head, West African Examinations Council International, Mr Adelowo Maliki, has advised the Federal Government to open more schools to accommodate millions of school-aged children roaming the streets.

    Maliki told the newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos that building more schools and equipping them with latest facilities and professional teachers would help in improving the state of education in the country.

    He explained that WAEC, as an examination body, did not feel that it was enough just to set tests for students and end it there.

    “Our main task, aside conducting examination, is also to research into education-related issues and seek ways of coming up with solutions.

    “We have realised that some of the key challenges are inadequate schools, ill-equipped schools, and lack of professional teachers.

    “The development is a major challenge in our effort to move forward as a nation.

    “One of the ways we try to give back to the society, as our corporate social responsibility, is by noting these challenges and organising seminars that will benefit the teachers and students.

    “This is mainly handled by the research unit of the council.

    “We organise monthly seminars for these people as we want them to have feedbacks on what we are doing for them,” he said.

    Maliki said that the seminars were mostly targeted at the teachers at the secondary school level.

    He said that the seminar was supposed to be taken round the country, but due to paucity of funds, was concentrated more in Lagos.

    In addition to the need for the more public schools across the country, Maliki said government should recruit more teachers and improve their welfare.

    “Building more schools entails recruiting more qualified teachers and putting in place improved welfare package for them.

    “I say this because another challenge facing the sector currently is the huge distraction facing the teachers.

    “Just like the students, there are so many things competing for their attention, especially in the face of the current economic recession.

    “These teachers are human and attend the same markets like every other person.

    “So, if what they get is not enough to cater for their basic needs, then what is available becomes the next option for them,’’ he said.

     

    NAN

  • WAEC reviews conduct of ‘GCE’, exam to now hold twice a year

    WAEC reviews conduct of ‘GCE’, exam to now hold twice a year

    The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, says it will soon begin the conduct of its examination for private candidates, popularly called GCE, twice in a year with effect from 2017.

    The council Registrar, Iyi Uwadiae, spoke with newsmen on the sidelines of the council’s “Registrar’s Staff Appraisal Committee’’ meeting on Wednesday in Accra, Ghana.

    Mr. Uwadiae said, “The West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates known as the November/December diet for private candidates will now be conducted in January/February and August/September.’’

    According to him, the measure is to ensure that many private candidates, who desire the certificate for various purposes, will have the opportunity of writing the examination and acquire the certificate.

    “We have concluded arrangements to commence writing of our WASSCE for private candidates twice a year from 2017.

    “This will take place in January /February and August/September every year in all the member countries.

    “This development, however, does not affect that of the school candidates, popularly called May/June.

    “That one remains once a year for all school candidates,” Mr. Uwadiae said.

    He explained that administering the WASSCE for private candidates twice a year was part of the projections of the council in 2017.

    According to him, as part of its mandate to render qualitative service to all member nations, the council is looking forward to a more rewarding 2017.

    “That is the essence of this meeting, which brings all the Heads of National Offices (HNO) from member countries together.

    “This meeting takes place once a year to discuss the appraisals of the international staff in member countries and recommend members of staff that are due for promotion.

    “During the meeting too, there is also a follow up action on staff with negative appraisals after which recommendations from the committee are forwarded to the international committee for ratifications.

    “All these are parts of what we do in order to make the activities of the council more relevant and beneficial to our people,’’ he said.

    Mr. Uwadiae lauded the HNOs for their resilience, doggedness and dedication in the face of peculiar challenges in their respective countries and for ensuring a smooth conduct of the examinations.

    Describing them as the council’s foot soldiers, the registrar thanked the HNOs for the support accorded him as the overall head of the regional examination body.

    “As foot soldiers of the council, I must say that they have done well and deserve the commendation of the council as we look forward to a better 2017.

    “They (HNOs) have been meeting the mandate of conducting and releasing results of the various examinations within the stipulated periods and coordinating activities in their respective national offices,’’ he said.

    Mr. Uwadiae said that WAEC was also looking forward to conducting its examination in many other countries with English speaking students, studying with Nigeria curriculum as possible.

    “We are open to any country in Africa which desire to have us set examination for students, who are being taught with English and uses Nigeria curriculum.

    “As long as these countries have all requisites needed for the conduct of our examination on ground, we will be there to carry out our mandate.

    “For instance, we are currently rendering such services to some French speaking countries like Togo, Benin Republic and Cote d’Ivoire.

    “These countries approached the council and we are doing that for their English speaking students who want our certificates,” he said.

     

    NAN

  • WAEC Registrar says no “special centres’’ for its examination

    WAEC Registrar says no “special centres’’ for its examination

    Dr Iyi Uwadiae, Registrar, West African Examinations Council (WAEC), says there are no “miracle’’ or “special’’ centres used anywhere for the council’s examination as speculated by some members of the public.

    Uwadiae made the assertion at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum on in Lagos.

    According to him, rather than say there are miracle or special centres, it is convenient to say that there are examination malpractice prone centres.

    He noted that such centres where students indulge in collation, exchange ideas and help each other was what led to candidates in a particular centre performing exceptionally than expected.

    The registrar said that such a development, when they go unreported and students perform high was what the public term as being a miracle centre.

    “Agreed, we will not dispute the fact that some locations are prone to examination malpractices.

    “Take the riverine areas for instance; we all know that it is difficult to access such places.

    “An examiner or supervisor manages to get there with question papers with need to be there with the inspectors from the Ministry of Education, from WAEC and some other stakeholders.

    “What happens in a situation where there is only one boat or canoe that plies the area and must have gone with only the supervisor early in the morning to return at about 12 mid-day?

    “Certainly by that time the examination would have been over, meaning that the examination was conducted with only the supervisor and the local invigilators from that area.

    “In such cases, there are chances that malpractice must thrive in such centres,’’ he said.

    Uwadiae said that in the course of the examination, the life of the supervisor could be under threat as he alone would not be able to challenge the action of the candidates.

    “Because of this, we normally tell the supervisors that when they are faced with such difficult situation, they should please cooperate.

    “They are told not to write anything they experienced right there at the centre, whatever they notice, they should try and memorise.

    “When these supervisors are out of that place, hale and hearty, then they can now file their situation report and that is why often times we have many centres that are de-recognised,’’ he said.

    He added that it was such developments that normally led to the cancellation of entire results of some centres.

    The registrar said the council recognised the fact that there were examination malpractice-prone centres which the public might have termed as special centres but that in the actual sense they are not.

    He added that the council members were not miracle workers to be everywhere and that was why many other stakeholders were co-opted in the conduct of the examinations.

    Uwadiae said if a centre was prone to examination malpractice and no report was made concerning activities in such centres by the supervisors, there was no way the council would know and act on it.

    He said such also applied to the script markers who would mark and discover a case of possible collusion among candidates and would not report.

    “We will not know what has transpired and so, when they finish such marking, the scripts are put together and returned to the rooms where they are kept.

    “We will not know what transpired as they only submit the marks and the attendance sheets where the marks are recorded before we now scan them into the computers

    “If we should have any suspicious development about the performance of any script, we do not hesitate to call for such a script and get an independent examiner who will go through and perhaps discover or confirm our fears.

    “When this is done, we now can establish a case against the school and subsequently cancel the entire result,’’ he said.

    The registrar added that WAEC did not work based on assumption, noting that it always ensured that there were evidence to hold on to before taking action against any candidate or school as the case may be.

    Uwadiae said where there were no such evidence or exhibits, the candidates were usually let off the hook as punishing them based on assumption could lead to legal action against the council.

    According to him, it will be wise for employers of labour to always ensure that aptitude tests are conducted to ascertain the authenticity of results provided by job seekers side by side their performance in examinations.

    “We have told employers of labour that if by any chance they have cause to doubt the kind of result presented by a job seeker that does not reflect his or her performance in the test, they should come to us.

    “If the scripts of such a person has not been destroyed, we can do a remark and thereby assist in providing an evidence upon which we can establish the fact that there could have been a form of malpractice,’’ he said.