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Tag: WAEC

  • WAEC releases 2024 WASSCE private candidates’ results

    WAEC releases 2024 WASSCE private candidates’ results

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates, second series.

    A total of 2,577 candidates had their results withheld due to allegations of examination malpractice. This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by WAEC’s Acting Public Affairs Officer, Mrs Moyosola Adesina.

    According to Adesina, 65,023 candidates sat for the examination in Nigeria between Oct. 25 and Dec. 20, 2024 at various centres across the country.

    She revealed that 34,878 candidates, representing 53.64 per cent, obtained credit and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

    Candidates have been advised to check their results at www.waecdirect.org before accessing digital copies of their certificates at www.waec.org.

    Those whose results were withheld should visit the WAEC Notice of Examination Malpractice Portal (https://waecinternational.org/complaints) to respond to allegations against them.

    “Reported cases will be investigated, including evidence gathered and candidates’ representations submitted. Findings will be reviewed by the Council’s relevant Committee for a final decision.

    “The Committee’s decisions will be communicated directly to the affected candidates,” Adesina stated.

    She noted that 16,886 (48.41 per cent) of the successful candidates were male, while 17,992 (51.58 per cent) were female.

    According to her, in the 2022 and 2023 second series, 42.16 per cent and 44.29 per cent of candidates, respectively, obtained credit and above in at least five subjects, including English and Mathematics.

    “This year’s result reflects a 9.35 per cent increase in performance in that category. However, the data cannot be directly compared to WASSCE for school candidates.

    “School candidates must sit for eight or nine subjects, whereas private candidates have the flexibility to register for as many or as few subjects as they need.

    “Out of all candidates who sat the exam, 62,354 (95.90 per cent) had their results fully processed and released.

    “Meanwhile, 2,669 candidates (4.10 per cent) have some subjects still being processed due to errors attributed to them.

    “Efforts are ongoing to complete processing and ensure the affected candidates receive their results as soon as possible,” Adesina said.

    She noted that statistical analysis shows that 43,923 candidates (67.55 per cent) obtained credit and above in at least five subjects, regardless of English Language or Mathematics.

    NAN reports that examiners marked candidates’ scripts at five centres in Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Enugu, and Kaduna between Jan. 15 and Feb. 4.

    Also, a total of 3,327 examiners participated in the coordination and marking exercise.

    “For the first time, the 2024 second series of WASSCE for private candidates was conducted in two modes, aligning with best practices and WAEC’s pursuit of excellence,” Adesina noted.

    She said candidates had the option to sit for the examination using either the traditional paper-and-pen format or a computer-based hybrid mode, depending on their choice during registration.

  • GOOD NEWS! WAEC to now allow students resit failed subjects

    GOOD NEWS! WAEC to now allow students resit failed subjects

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced a new initiative, which will allow students to resit their WASSCE papers as early as January and February 2025.

    This marks a significant shift from the previous system, where candidates had to wait for the next private exam cycle.

    The Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, disclosed this while speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show in Ghana on Tuesday, December 31st.

    He explained that the new programme, referred to as WASSCE PC1, provides a faster route for students to improve their grades.

    “Students who access their results now and realise they need to resit one or two papers have until 8th January to register online through our website or at WAEC-accredited internet cafés. The exams will take place from 24th January to 15th February 2025,” Mr Kapi stated.

    According to him, to aid candidates in their preparations, WAEC plans to expedite the release of chief examiners’ reports, saying, “These reports will provide detailed feedback on where students may have gone wrong and how they can better approach their studies and the examination process.

    “We’ve advertised this programme widely through banners, our website, and our results checker platform to ensure that both students and parents are aware,” Mr Kapi added.

    He said students whose results have been cancelled are also eligible to sit the WASSCE PC1 exams, provided they have not been banned for some years for malpractice.

    “For now, the exams will be conducted in regional capitals due to the limited number of candidates. Prospective participants are urged to complete their registration by the 8th of January to take advantage of this opportunity.”

    WAEC, however, expressed optimism that this initiative will allow candidates to quickly improve their grades and qualify for the next cycle of admissions, avoiding a year-long delay in their academic progress.

  • WAEC bans 13 schools in Kogi

    WAEC bans 13 schools in Kogi

    The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has banned 13 schools in Kogi for various degrees of examination malpractices in the 2023/2024 examinations.

    The State’s Commissioner for Education, Mr. Wemi Jones, made the disclosure during a meeting with some principals and supervisors who were indicted by WAEC for the examination malpractices.

    The commissioner also disclosed that the council had blacklisted 14 supervisors for various degrees of malpractices in the 2023/2024 West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the state.

    According to him, Government has vowed to sanction school principals, teachers and supervisors who engaged or aided examination malpractices in the state.

    Jones emphasised that examination malpractices remained a criminal offence and would be treated in accordance with the Law.

    He said that henceforth exam malpractice offenders would be prosecuted in accordance with Kogi State Education Law and Other Matters Connected Therewith, 2020.

    He stated that a committee would be set up to be headed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary to investigate personalities indicted by WAEC.

    The commissioner warned that whosoever was found wanting would be prosecuted in the Law Court.

    “Kogi State has invested so much in Education and will no longer tolerate the attitude of the ‘bad eggs’ drawing back the gains already made in education sector,” Jones said.

    Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Dr. Seidu Jibrin, admonished the principals and the supervisors to desist from any act of examination malpractice.

    According to him, such actions are not just robbing the state but destroying the future of the students.

    “I urge you to have a sober reflection of your actions as posterity will judge everyone according to his/her deeds.

    “While some teachers are being called out for awards, it will be wrong for you to be called out for condemnations.

    “It is unfortunate that this is happening when Kogi State is investing so much in Education, whosoever is found culpable will be severely sanctioned,”Jibrin said.

  • WAEC adopts computer-based examination for private candidates

    WAEC adopts computer-based examination for private candidates

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the schedule for the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for Private Candidates, 2024 – Second Series.

    The examination body, in a statement on Tuesday, noted the hybrid mode of delivering the examination will begin from Friday, October 25 to Friday, December 20, 2024.

    The Council added that this optional writing mode will give the candidates the opportunity to choose between Computer-Based Tests (CBT) and traditional Paper-Based Tests (PBT).

    “The examination will adopt the hybrid mode of delivering the examination, which implies that the objective or multiple-choice questions would be rendered on-screen and candidates would be required to give their responses on the screen, while the essay and practical questions will be rendered on-screen, likewise, but candidates would have to give their responses using the answer booklets provided.
    “The examination diet has provided an option for candidates who may wish to use Paper and Pen mode for all examination papers,” it said.

    The examination also noted that the registration period for the examination had been extended to Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

    “On this note, the Council wishes to inform all intending candidates that the registration period has been extended to Tuesday, October 29, 2024,” it said.

    It added that all intending, as well as registered, candidates should take advantage of the numerous learning resources provided by the Council.

    “All intending, as well as registered, candidates are advised to take advantage of the numerous learning resources provided by the Council. These include signing up on the WAEC e-Study platform purchasing the WAEC Past Questions and Answers books, and joining other candidates to interact, on the WAECKonnect platform.

    “WAEC wishes all candidates for the examination success. The Council will always seek ways of delivering on its mandate by deploying technological innovations to make its services easily accessible to all stakeholders,” the Council stated.

  • BREAKING: FG makes u-turn on WAEC, NECO age limit

    BREAKING: FG makes u-turn on WAEC, NECO age limit

    The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that the ministry has not stopped students who are not up to 18 years old from writing the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.

    The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, made the clarification in Abuja on Friday while fielding questions from journalists at an event to mark the 2024 International Literacy Day (ILD). Sununu said that the public misconception and misinterpretation of what was said by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, was highly disappointing.

    He said that the minister was actually speaking on the 18 years entry age into the tertiary institutions as was practiced in the 6:3:3:4 system of education.

    “We have agreed that we are going to consider it as a work-in-progress. The National Assembly is working and we are also working. It was shocking to say that a university in this country gave admission to children at ages 10, 11 and 12 years. This is totally wrong.

    “We are not saying that there are no exceptions, we know we can have talented students that have the IQ of an adult even at age 6 and 7, but these are very few.

    “There must be a rule, and the ministry is looking at developing a guideline on how to identify a talented child, so that parents don’t say we are blocking their children’s chances. Nobody said no child will write WAEC, NECO or any other examination unless at age 18. This is a misconception and misrepresentation of what we have said,” he said.

    Speaking on the International Literacy Day, Sununu underscored the critical role of literacy in fostering mutual understanding, peace and socio-economic development. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing literacy challenges through the Education for Renewed Hope roadmap (2024-2027).

    He highlighted youth and adult literacy as key components, while emphasising the importance of using learners’ mother tongues as a medium of instruction.

    “We must focus on the role of a learner’s first language in becoming literate, which will foster mutual understanding and peace,” he added.

    He also emphasised the need for well-trained educators who should be equipped to teach in local languages, as well as the development of follow-up reading materials in these languages.

    On his part, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education (NMEC), Prof. Simon Akpama, reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to integrating multilingual education into schools’ literacy programmes.

    “In an increasingly interconnected world, multilingual education is not just a necessity, it is a tool for fostering peace and cultural respect,” he said.

    Meanwhile, UNESCO’s Country Representative, Mr Diallo Abdourahamane, re-echoed that literacy remained a fundamental human right, hence the need to create a just, peaceful and sustainable society.

    The ILD which is celebrated annually on Sept. 8, is aimed at highlighting the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.”

  • FG told to suspend age limit for WAEC, NECO

    FG told to suspend age limit for WAEC, NECO

    A group, Education Rights Campaign, has called on the Federal Government to suspend the 18 years age limit for taking the West African Examination Certificate (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO). Mr Hassan Soweto, National Coordinator of the group made the call in an interview on Thursday in Abuja.

    Recall the Federal Government recently announced a new policy setting the age limit for WAEC and NECO candidates at 18. The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, instructed WAEC and NECO administrators of the Senior School Certificate Examinations to enforce the policy.

    Soweto described the policy as needless and unnecessary. According to him, government should suspend the move and address other educational policies that directly affect students, and the education system in the country.

    “The minister’s statement is trying to force us into a needless controversy rather than on how to make the education system work. We recognise the need to protect our children but this policy is an attempt to weed out many students from gaining admission probably because of insufficient space in the universities,” he said.

    Soweto said that the 6-3-3-4 education system responsible for producing students from 18 years who should be eligible for admission into universities had failed. He said this calls for concern and not the introduction of another policy.

    The coordinator appealed to the government not to punish students who had proven to be exceptional, by passing the WAEC and NECO examinations. He urged the government to address issues of double and triple promotion of students to other classes, especially in private schools and early admission of children into primary and secondary schools.

    “There is need to have a proper conversation with stakeholders on educational development. The age limit policy will look like a punishment to thousands of students who are exceptionally brilliant and have qualified to be admitted into universities.

    “We must insist that this policy be suspended; stakeholders’ discussion on all the metrics is also required. There should be a national summit by government to re-examine the 6-3-3-4 system. There, stakeholders can make input and the national education policy updated.

    “Government is also expected to address challenges such as poor education funding, perennial strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), poor infrastructures, and brain-drain,” Soweto said.

  • No admission for underage children from next year – FG

    No admission for underage children from next year – FG

    The federal government (FG) has instructed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) not to allow underage children to write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to seek admission in any university in the country. Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman disclosed this on Sunday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the FG has also instructed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) not to allow underage children sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), respectively.

    According to Mamman, the age limit for any candidate to gain admission into any university in the country remained 18 years, while insisting that underage candidates will no longer be allowed to sit for secondary school leaving examinations.

    The Minister, who made these disclosures when he featured on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics programme, said: “It is 18 (years). What we did at the meeting that we had with JAMB (in July) was to allow this year and for it to serve as a kind of notice for parents that this year, JAMB will admit students who are below that age but from next year, JAMB is going to insist that anybody applying to go to university in Nigeria meets the required age which is 18. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a new policy; this is a policy that has been there for a long time.

    “Even basically if you compute the number of years pupils, and learners are supposed to be in school, the number you will end up with is 17 and a half – from early child care to primary school to junior secondary school and then senior secondary school. You will end up with 17 and a half by the time they are ready for admission. So, we are not coming up with new policy contrary to what some people are saying; we are just simply reminding people of what is existing.

    “In any case, NECO and WAEC, henceforth will not be allowing underage children to write their examinations. In other words, if somebody has not spent the requisite number of years in that particular level of study, WAEC and NECO will not allow them to write the examination.”

    The minister went further to give a breakdown of the number of years pupils are expected to spend between child care and senior secondary school.

    According to him, early care is expected to last for the first five years. Pupils are expected to begin primary one at the age of six, spend six years in primary school and move to junior secondary school at the age of 12, spend three years, before moving to senior secondary school at the age of 15, to spend three more years and leave for university at the age of 18.

  • Peter Obi reacts to poor WAEC results, says poor funding for education is causality

    Peter Obi reacts to poor WAEC results, says poor funding for education is causality

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has lamented the poor performance by Nigeria students in the recently released results by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the results released by the examination body recorded a 7.69 per cent decrease in the performance of candidates who sat for the examination in Nigeria.

    In reaction, Obi in a statement on Monday called for an increased investment in the education sector  as he stressed that the government investment in education remains poor.

    The former Anambra governor also lamented what he called constant decline in “our educational performance and other critical areas” which he said “demands urgent attention and action.”

    He said that “with our claimed literacy rate of over 50%, we are still ranked 187 on the global scale of literacy, reflecting a visible lack of commitment to education in the country.

    “Our investment in education, as with other critical areas, remains poor.

    “A total capital expenditure for the entire education sector, including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), was allocated N330.3 billion.

    “For a country with about 81,520 schools at the primary level and 23,550 schools at the secondary level, such an amount is visibly poor,” he stated.

    He pointed out that “the aggressive investment in education we made in Anambra State under my administration greatly transformed education in the State, and still bears fruits to this day.

    “I sincerely congratulate all the students who sat for the 2024 WASSCE, especially those who made impressive results.

    “I applaud their efforts, hard work, and dedication to their studies, which paid off.

    “And to their respective schools, management, staff, and teachers – I especially celebrate you all. Your contributions to the educational growth and overall development of our society remain laudable.

    “In the famous words of Nelson Mandela, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’.

    “Our commitment to a New Nigeria where education will be prioritised remains firm.

    “A New Nigeria is possible,” he said.

  • Reps quiz WAEC boss over N6bn deficit incurred in 2023

    Reps quiz WAEC boss over N6bn deficit incurred in 2023

    The House of Representatives has quizzed the Head of the National Office, West African Examination Council (WAEC) Nigeria, Mr Josiah Dangut, over a N6 billion deficit the agency incurred in 2023.

    The House Committee on Basic Examination Bodies, led by Rep. Oforji Oboku, grilled Dangut during an investigative hearing in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The committee queried WAEC over a loan of N5 billion it got in 2022 for the purchase of a customised calculator.

    Dangut, in a defence, provided the cashbook of the agency to the committee but the members declined, insisting that it must submit bank statements.

    The committee chairman said WAEC had to explain how it generated N34 billion in 2023, but spent N40 billion.

    He also wondered how the examination body could approve a loan of up to N5 billion when even the Ministerial Board could not approve such an amount.

    He asked the WAEC boss to tell the committee how many students participated in the 2022 examinations for which the calculators were obtained.

    Following the unsatisfactory response by the WAEC representatives, the committee resolved that WAEC must submit all its bank statements from 2018 to date “within a week”.

    A member of the committee, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, described WAEC as uncooperative, saying that it must be held accountable.

    “WAEC Nigeria was an uncooperative witness in this process, shielding and denying Nigerians the value of whatever investment the country has had in that office.

    “WAEC should submit all its bank account statements to the  committee in furtherance of the investigation,” he said.

    The committee said that out of eight submissions demanded from the examination body in a bid to probe its expenditure, only one – nominal role – was submitted.

    The committee demanded that WAEC should  provide the expenditures that led to the N6 billion deficit and all correspondences related to the purchase of customised calculators.

    The committee further said that evidence of approval for the N5 billion loan to purchase the customised calculators must be provided.

    The committee also demanded evidence of due process followed for the award of the contract as well as evidence of payment, including payment vouchers and bank records.

    It queried WAEC for breaching the public procurement and financial regulations act in the payment of 50 per cent of the contract for the construction of its Taraba office valued at N532 million.

    Dangut, however, pleaded with the lawmakers to give him another date to enable him present the statement of account and other documents demanded.

    He also explained that he had to pay 50 per cent of the Taraba office contract sum to avoid the astronomical rise in the inflationary trend in the country.

  • WAEC withholds 215,267 results

    WAEC withholds 215,267 results

    The West African Examinations Council has withheld the results of 215,267 candidates from the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

    This figure represents 11.92 per cent of the 1,805,216 candidates who took the examination.

    The 2024 WASSCE commenced on Tuesday, 30th April 2024, and concluded on 24th June 2024.

    Speaking on Monday while announcing the release of the 2024 WASSCE results, the Head of the Nigeria Office, WAEC, Dr Amos Dangut, stated that the results were withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.

    He said, “The increasing use of mobile phones in the examination hall, despite the existing ban, and organised cheating in some schools, are other nagging issues. All the cases are being investigated, and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate committee of the Council for consideration and final decisions.”

    He added, “The committee’s decisions will be communicated to the affected candidates through their various schools in due course. Candidates affected by these decisions can now seek redress for their malpractice cases via our website if they so wish. All hands must, therefore, be on deck to sanitise the system.”

    Dr Dangut also revealed that 73.79 per cent of candidates obtained credit or above in a minimum of any five subjects, with or without English Language and/or Mathematics. This figure represents 1,332,089 candidates out of the total 1,805,216 who sat the examination.

    He further encouraged candidates, stating, “As WASSCE for School Candidates, 2024 results are being uploaded on the results website, candidates should, after checking their results online, apply for their Digital Certificates, which will be released 48 hours thereafter.”

    He added, “Candidates who have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Council can access their results on the Council’s results website within the next 12 hours. Copies of the Result Listing will be sent to schools shortly.”

    The examination was conducted in four WAEC member countries: Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.