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Tag: WAEC

  • Warri Prison secure accreditation as WAEC center

    Warri Prison secure accreditation as WAEC center

    The Warri Correctional Centre in Delta state has been approved by the West African Examination Council for inmates to sit for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination.

    Okere Prison as it’s fondly called will serve as one of the WASSCE centers for inmates in the country.

    The Deputy Controller of Corrections, DCC Edo Ineku, disclosed this when he led a team from the Correctional Centre on a courtesy visit to the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Michael Tidi, at the Council Secretariat.

    He noted that the courtesy visit to the Local Government Council was part of his familiarization moves since his arrival in April 2022.

    He said, “It is clear that the synergy among stakeholders in criminal justice system is key. The Federal Government cannot do this alone, hence we need your assistance.”

  • UPDATE: WAEC withholds 365,564 WASSCE results over malpractice

    UPDATE: WAEC withholds 365,564 WASSCE results over malpractice

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says the results of a total of 365,564 candidates who sat for its 2022 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates have been withheld.

    A total of the 1,607,981 candidates registered for the examination from 20,222  recognised secondary schools across the country, but only 1,601, 047 sat for the test.

    Mr Patrick Areghan, the council’s Head of National Office (HNO), announced details of  the examination results on Monday, in Lagos.

    He said the withheld results related to  various reported cases of examination malpractice.

    According to him, the number of seized results represents 22.83 per cent, making it 11.74 per cent higher than the 10.9 per cent recorded in the same examination diet in 2021.

    Areghan said that the students’ lack of zeal to learn was largely responsible for the development.

    “I will say preparation for examination among our students is taking a serious nose dive, due to over-reliance on the so-called ‘Expo’, which is actually non-existent.

    “Candidates simply got frustrated when they entered the examination hall and discovered that all they had celebrated, was actually fake.

    “This has pitiably led to some of them failing the examination, which if they had relied on themselves and studied hard, would have passed like many others,” he stated.

    The HNO said that the council would continue to sanction all cases of examination malpractice.

    He said that schools, supervisors, teachers and candidates perpetrating the evil act were not helping the education system.

    Areghan said that all hands must be on deck to check the ugly trend.

    He said that the increasing use of cell phones in the examination hall, in spite of the existing ban, and organised cheating in some schools were other nagging issues.

    The WAEC boss said that the examination was also administered to candidates from some schools in Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, where the Nigerian curriculum for senior secondary school was being used.

    Giving a further breakdown of statistics of the results, Areghan said that, of the total 1,601, 047 candidates who sat for the examination, 1,713 of them had varying degrees of special needs.

    “Of the number of candidates with special needs,128 of them were visually challenged, 583 others had impaired hearing and 387 were spastic cum mentally challenged.

    “We also had 12 others who are physically challenged. All these candidates were adequately provided for,  in the administration of the examination.

    “Results of these category of candidates have been processed and are also now being released along with those of other candidates,” he said.

    Speaking further on the result, Areghan said that of the total number that sat for the examination, a total of 1,437,629 candidates representing 89.79 per cent had their results fully processed and released.

    According to him, a total of 163,418 others,  representing 10.21 per cent had a few of their subjects still being processed, due to some issues that are still being resolved.

    He, however, noted that efforts were  being made to speedily complete the processing, to enable all the affected candidates to get their results fully processed and released within the next one week.

    Areghan said that further statistics of candidates’ performance at the examination showed that 1,409, 529 , representing 88.04 per cent obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects, that is, with or without English Language and/or Mathematics.

    According to him, 1,222,505 others, representing 76. 36 per cent who sat  for the examination, obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

    He noted that there was a 5.34 per cent decrease in performance, when compared to the 81.70 per cent obtained by candidates in the same category in 2021, in the same examination diet.

    Speaking further, the HNO said that the council’s Digital Security Printing press was set for commissioning.

    According to him, the digital security printing press, which is the first of its kind by the council in Nigeria, is in response to its  growing operational needs.

    “With this digital security printing press, the Nigeria national office will be able to improve its operational efficiency.

    “Also, the much-awaited digital certificate software, which was earlier announced as one of the innovations the council is exploring in its bid to make service delivery more accessible to candidates, is here at last.

    “The project has been completed and it is now set for launch to enable end users enjoy the enormous benefits of the service,” he said.

    Areghan expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, the Ministry of Education, security agencies and other stakeholders, for giving maximum support to the council.

    He said they gave this before, during and after the conduct of the examination, especially in the face of the insecurity in parts of the country.

    The HNO appealed to states that were owing the council registration fees of their candidates to pay up.

    This, he said, would enable such candidates to be able to access their results. The conduct of the WASSCE for school candidates ended on June 3. The examination council released the results exactly 45 days after the last paper.

  • BREAKING: 2022 WASSCE results released

    BREAKING: 2022 WASSCE results released

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the 2022 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) results.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the results are for school candidates who sat for the 2022 WASSCE from May 16 to June 23, 2022.

    WAEC’s Head of National Office, Patrick Areghan made this known while speaking at a briefing on Monday.

    Areghan noted that the results of the examination which held for six weeks were released 45 days after the last paper.

  • WAEC seeks FG’s support to procure $3.9m printing machine

    WAEC seeks FG’s support to procure $3.9m printing machine

    The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has solicited the support of the Federal Government to procure an outstanding printing machine to help its service delivery.

    The Chairman of Council, Prof. Ato Essuman, said this when he led his team on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, in Abuja on Thursday.

    Essuman said that the building and all the external work had been completed, adding that three of the machines had already been purchased.

    He, however, said that the outstanding machine which costs 3.9 million U.S. dollars needed to be procured to enable the council to achieve its mandate of conducting effective examinations.

    ”As a responsible and responsive organisation, the council is always seeking ways of improving on its service delivery to stakeholders.

    “The Nigeria National Office embarked on the establishment of a Digital Printing Press for the printing of examination security materials, the first to be owned by the council in Nigeria.

    “However, the project, which is nearing completion, has been stalled because we are not able to fund the acquisition of a particular machine that is vital to the operation of the system.

    “I wish therefore to use this privilege extended to me today to request your kind intervention to enable us to secure the required financial assistance for the procurement of the machine,” he said.

    Essuman said that in the 70 years of WAEC’s existence, Nigeria stands out in the comity of member nations not only in the discharge of its obligations, but also in the enthusiasm and promptness with which most of the obligations were discharged.

    He, therefore, thanked the government and people of Nigeria for the support, cooperation and goodwill, which WAEC had received from inception in 1952 to date.

    Responding, Adamu promised to do his best to make sure that Nigerian government continues to support the council in achieving its mandate.

    Also, the Head, Nigeria National Office, WAEC, Mr Patrick Areghan, while visiting its marking centre, said there had been a marginal increase in WAEC fees because of the country’s spiral inflation.

    Areghan said that the conversion of naira to dollar today was a misery saying that the upward review of fees was necessary to enable the council to render its services efficiently to the Nigerian child.

    ”There has to be that marginal increase to enable us to do better services. The examiners are now happy as we are able to increase their marking fees through this marginal increase.

    ”The money actually went for the payment of examiners to enable us satisfy them so that they can do the job better,” he said.

    He said that each student writing the examinations now has to pay N18,000 as against the former N13,950.

    On whether the council was planning to introduce the Computer Based Test (CBT) in the conduct of its examinations, Areghan said CBT would only be achieved if the government provided the required facilities to enable it to conduct such examinations.

    He said that WAEC conducts examinations for over 20,000 secondary schools in the country and in 76 subjects and as such would be difficult to use CBT for its examinations knowing well that a candidate could offer as low as eight subjects.

    In the same vein, Registrar of Council, Mr Pateh Bah, expressed satisfaction with the work carried out by examiners in the centre for prompt release of its results.

    Bah said that the examiners had worked within the time limit of 45 days to which examination results would be released.

  • I lost my WAEC certificate, but I have the print out – Okowa

    I lost my WAEC certificate, but I have the print out – Okowa

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said he lost his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate, but that he has the printout from Edo College, Benin City.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Okowa made this known on Tuesday while stressing that the printout clearly stated that he has distinction in all subjects, adding that he made the second best result in his set in the country in 1976.

    Okowa said that the issue around the certificate was deliberate wrong perception and unnecessary politics while explaining that virtually all universities in the country offered him admission based on his outstanding performance in WASC and Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations.

    Okowa made this known while speaking to journalists after inspecting ongoing projects at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area.

    He said: “On the issue of my certificate, I think it is a misconception. People try to play politics with everything.

    “Yes, I lost my WAEC certificate, but I have the print out from Edo College, Benin City, which clearly stated that I have distinction in all subjects.

    “The Higher School Certificate was attached and it has been acknowledged by Edo College and the school put it out there that I made an ‘A’ `B’ `B’.

    “I do not pride myself but it was very difficult to make such grade in higher school at that time.

    “My high school result was the second best nationally in 1976, when I finished. So, many universities admitted me through Telegram as at that time, and I had to start making choices of which to accept.

    “Of course, it’s very clear that I finished medical school at the University of Ibadan. I was 21years and some months; I was less than 22 years of age.’’

    On the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the governor called on the Federal Government to expedite action in resolving the issues, adding that every government should be sincere enough to keep to promises and agreements at all times.

    “We continue to sympathise with our students who have been at home for several months now rather than being in school.

    “I use this opportunity to call on the Federal government to do something urgently to end the strike.

    “It’s not a good thing for the children, parents and even education in general. It is unfortunate that the Federal government has not been able to attend to issues, as requested by ASUU.

    “For every government, if promises are made, we must ensure that we keep to our promises and if there are things that cannot be done, you let people know,’’ he said.

    Okowa remarked that lecturers were not on strike in the four universities owned by the state, “for us in Delta State, we are fulfilling all the requirements and that’s why you can see that this university and our three other universities are all active and in session because we do not have any issues with our lecturers.

    “All our four universities are in session because we pay special attention to education in Delta State, and our Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has also assured that education occupies a prime position in our `Rescue Nigeria’ mission.’’

    He expressed satisfaction with the Management of the university in Ozoro for successfully admitting 1,850 students in the first year, disclosing that no fewer than 3,000 applicants chose the university as first choice in the new session, starting in October.

    “That over 3,000 applicants have chosen the University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, as first choice is very heart-warming and it goes to show that our decision to upgrade the Polytechnic to a University of Science and Technology is a very good decision.’’

    He also lauded the university for using the engineering students to execute some projects in the school.

    “We walked through some concrete paved roads executed by the university with engineering students and it is very encouraging that they are putting their students to practice and their lecturers also have the opportunity to practicalise what they teach.

    “You will recall in the same manner when the school was a polytechnic that they used their students and their engineering staff to build the stadium in the campus.

    “This is very encouraging because it is important that we actually ensure that our students are not only groomed up in theory but also put to practice what they learn and that’s exactly what we look forward to,” the governor said.

  • Davido offers scholarship to young boy who scored A1 parallel in WAEC

    Davido offers scholarship to young boy who scored A1 parallel in WAEC

    Nigeria’s superstar musician, David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido has offered a scholarship to a young boy known as Morro Suleyman, who scored A1 parallel in his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examination but was unable to continue his studies.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Suleyman had been forced to remain at home because his parents are unable to afford to pay for his education at the postsecondary level.

    Nana Yaw, a Twitter user with good intentions for the lad posted Suleyman’s result online and asked for assistance for the young Ghanaian boy.

    When Suleyman’s result was posted online, it drew a lot of attention, including the attention of Davido. The Nigerian super start musician heard the cry for help and issued an appeal to the general public for assistance in locating the talented youngster.

    Not too long, Davido tweeted that he has contacted Suleyman and that he has been given a scholarship to Adeleke University with accommodation and allowance included.

    A look at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) result showed Morro had A1 parallel and had sat for the exam at Sunyani Senior High School (SUSEC) in the Bono Region of Ghana.

  • 23,000 students set to miss 2022 WAEC exam in Zamfara

    23,000 students set to miss 2022 WAEC exam in Zamfara

    In Zamfara state about 23, 000 SS3 students are set to miss this year’s West Africa Senior Secondary School Examination (WAEC) over the inability of the state government to pay their exam fees.

    WAEC authorities have said that the students will not be allowed to write exams based on the fact that Zamfara state government refused to pay their exam fees to the appropriate quarters.

    Addressing pressmen in Gusau, the state capital, Deputy Registrar of WAEC , Mr Olufemi Bamigboye, mentioned via a press statement that the state was still owing examination fees for 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    He added that the amount owed WAEC has added up to1.6 billion naira and the state couldn’t even pay the current exam fees for this year.

    “With less than four days to the examinations for the year 2022, the final year students of public schools in the state have not knоwn their fate as the state government has not met with the requirements of the council”

    “The state government has not formally registered its candidates in the public schools for the 2022 examinations talk of paying the arrears owed”

    It was gathered that Zamfara State has a policy of paying WAEC and NECO examination fees for students in its public schools but has been owing the council a backlog of arrears.

    “We registered Zamfara State Students last year following intervention from some notable Nigerians that the state government will settle us including that of 2019 and 2020 but till this moment nothing is done and no sign of the payment”, Bamigboye added.

    ” The State government is still owing us examination fees for three years which is about one billion six hundred and five thousand (N1, 650,000) naira,” Bamigboye said.

    He also confirmed that the results of students who sat for examinations since 2019 have not been released due to the accumulated debts which he said the State government refuses to offset.

    “Results of students of Zamfara State public school who sat for exams in 2019, 2020 and 2021 are still with WAEC as the government refused to pay the money”

    He said that he was worried over the nonparticipation of students in this year’s WAEC examinations and results being withheld for three years may contribute to the insecurity bedevilling the state

    According to him, a total of 1,607,975 candidates from 20, 221 schools across the country registered for this year’s WASSCE which will begin by Monday, May 16, 2022.

    “Except There is an intervention those students will miss their exams” He said

  • WAEC clarifies 2022 WASSCE clash with UTME

    WAEC clarifies 2022 WASSCE clash with UTME

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says there is no clash in its examination dates with this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    The council’s Head of National Office (HNO) Mr Patrick Areghan made the clarification on Saturday in Lagos.

    Areghan was speaking against the backdrop of concerns raised by some stakeholders, including parents, that a clash might endanger the performance of some candidates in both examinations.

    Reports have it that the Federal Ministry of Education had in a circular dated April 5, titled: Update on 2022 Examinations Timetable for all Examination Bodies, addressed to all the test bodies in the country, showed a clash in date.

    The clash in date was for both West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), organised by WAEC, and UTME organised by JAMB.

    The circular was said to have been signed by Mr David Gende, a Director, overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the ministry.

    Areghan said: “Yes, I have seen it too, but that date is not correct.

    “I want to assure the concerned stakeholders and indeed the general public that there is nothing to worry about as there is no clash in dates for our examination with the UTME, as seen in that circular.

    “The UTME starts on Friday, May 6 and ends on May 14.

    “Our examination for school candidates which is the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) starts on May 16 and not May 6, as is seen on the said circular,” he stated.

    A copy of the authentic WASSCE timetable made available to this correspondent, confirmed the date for the commencement of the examination.

    “From our authentic timetable for candidates for the 2022 examination too, it shows that the papers slated for May 9, are what we call ‘Moving Exams’.

    “It is just for the candidates to choose what they want to do for the practicals. Should any candidate fall in this category, he or she will be easily taken care of, by way of rescheduling another date for them.

    “Therefore, aside this, I want to clarify that there is no clash with the JAMB-organised examination whatsoever.

    “The UTME ends on May 14, while our WASSCE starts two days after, being May 16 and not May 6,” the WAEC boss noted.

  • WAEC forced to reverse no NIN, no exam policy for 2022 WASSE

    WAEC forced to reverse no NIN, no exam policy for 2022 WASSE

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has been forced to drop it’s no National Identification Number (NIN), no examination policy.

    WAEC has said prospective school candidates without NIN will be allowed to write this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    The council’s Head of National Office (HNO), Mr Patrick Areghan made this known at a news conference to announce the release of results of the WASSCE 2021 for Private Candidates Second Series on Monday in Lagos.

    Areghan was speaking against the backdrop of apprehension by some parents, following the recent collapse of the NIMC portal.

    He noted that it was commonplace to occasionally experience such challenges with the introduction of new policies, noting that everything would fall in place with time.

    “When the NIMC portal had the challenge, many persons became apprehensive, especially as it fell within the period when candidates were supposed to be registering for the 2022 WASSCE for schools.

    “I remember very clearly that before now, we had announced that candidates will not be able to write the WASSCE without the NIN, that is, no NIN, no exam.

    “We want to state here that following the recent challenge posed by the NIMC portal, candidates are free to write the examination without presenting their NIN.

    “Those with the NIN card can come along with it to school but nobody is going to be disadvantaged.

    “Every Nigerian child will write the examination. Non possession of the NIN will not debar any child from writing the examination. It should not be a hindrance because we have instructed principals of schools to compile and forward list of prospective candidates without the NIN to council.

    “Whenever they provide the NIN, we impute them accordingly in their data,” Areghan stated.

    Announcing the result of the WASSCE for Private Candidates 2021 Second Series, the HNO said that a total of 52, 973 candidates registered, with 51,444 of them writing the examination.

    He noted that of the total number that sat for the examination, 49,584 representing 96. 38 per cent of them had their results fully processed and released, while 1,860 others, representing 3.62 per cent had a few of their subjects still being processed.

    According to him, this is due to some errors traceable to the candidates, noting, however, that efforts are being made to speedily complete the processing to enable all the affected candidates get their results fully processed and released subsequently.

    Giving a further breakdown of statistics of the results, Areghan said 32,647 candidates obtained credits and above in a minimum of any five subjects, with or without English Language and /or Mathematics.

    He said that 25,008 other candidates obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

    The HNO noted that of the 25,008, 12,272 candidates, that is, 49.07 per cent were males, while 12,736 others representing 50.93 per cent were females.

    “With this, the percentage of candidates in this category for the WASSCE for Private Candidates 2019 and 2020, that is, those who obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics were 35.99 per cent and 39.82 per cent respectively.

    “Thus, there is an encouraging 8.79 per cent improvement in performance in this regard,” he stated.

    Speaking further, the council’s boss noted that a total of 3,968 results of candidates who wrote the examination had been withheld, in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.

    He noted that the cases were being investigated and that reports of the investigations would be presented to the appropriate committee on council for determination in due course.

    Areghan stated that the committee’s final decisions would thereafter be communicated to the affected candidates.

    The HNO added that a total of 131 candidates with varying degrees of special needs were registered for the examination, noting that of the figure, 10 of them were visually challenged, nine had impaired hearing, while eight others had low vision.

    He added that four of these candidates were spastic cum mentally challenged and three others physically challenged.

    According to him, all these candidates with special needs were adequately provided for in the administration of the examination, adding that their results had also been processed and are being released along with those of other candidates.

    He then urged candidates to feel free to check the details of their performance on the council’s results website on www.waecdirct.org.

    According to him, the result checker pin and serial number needed by candidates to check their results online were contained on the candidate’s identity photo card used during the examination.

    He further stated that collection of certificates for the WASSCE for Private Candidates was now based on requests made online, via the Electronic Certificate Management System (e-CERTMAN) platform.

    On the level of compliance for registration of candidates for the 2022 WASSCE for school candidates, Areghan lamented that the response by schools in this regard was abysmally low.

    He noted that not less than 1.6 million candidates were expected to register for the examination but that regrettably, as Friday, 11th, only about 300,000 details of candidates had been uploaded.

    “This is not encouraging. All things being equal, this examination may hold in it’s traditional May/June, depending on the decision from the regional headquarters.

    “This non compliance to registration deadline is one of the challenges facing the council in conducting our examination. We have even extended our registration deadline from Feb. 12 to Feb. 25, just to accommodate everyone. Yet, some schools are non-challant about it.

    “We are appealing to these schools to do the needful in order to give us ample time to prepare adequately for the pre and post examination materials,” Areghan stated.

  • WAEC releases 2021 GCE results

    WAEC releases 2021 GCE results

    The second series edition of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, for private candidates, otherwise known as the General Certificate Examination, has been released.

    A total of 48.61 percent of the total number of candidates that took part in the examination secured credits in five subjects including English Language and Mathematics.

    This was disclosed on Monday by the head of Nigeria’s office of WAEC, Patrick Areghan.

    According to him, the examination was written from November 12, 2021, to Wednesday, December 22, 2021 by a total of 51,444 candidates out of 52, 973 registered candidates.

    He said: “25,008 candidates representing 48.61 per cent obtained credits and above in a minimum of five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, of this number, 12, 272 were male candidates, while 12,736 were female candidates.”

    He added that there is an encouraging 8.79 per cent improvement in performance in the last examination.

    Meanwhile, Mr Areghan said the non-availability of the National Identification Number (NIN) will not stop candidates from sitting for the May/June 2021 examination.

    Giving a further breakdown of the results, the HNO said among the total number of candidates were 131 with varying degrees of special needs. He said their results have also been processed and are being released along with those of other candidates.

    He said out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, 49,584 candidates, representing 96.38 percent, have their results fully processed and released while 1,860 candidates, representing 3.62 percent, have a few of their subjects still being processed due to “some errors on the part of the candidates.”

    He, however, said efforts are being made to release their results.