The results of 215,267 students who took the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) (School students) have been withheld by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) due to allegations of malpractice. the withheld results of candidates that sat for the examination are in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.
This was said by Dr. Amos Dangut, Head of the National Office (HNO), in Lagos on Monday at the results announcement. Dangut claims that the figure corresponds to 11.92% of the applicants who took the test. The percentage, he pointed out, was 4.37% less than the 16.29% observed in 2023 for the identical diet.
The results of these applicants who took the test were withheld because of multiple documented instances of exam fraud, Other bothersome issues include organized cheating in certain schools and the growing use of cell phones in test rooms despite the current ban.
“Every case is being looked into, and the results of those investigations will be brought before the relevant council committee for deliberation and final decisions,” he declared.
The head of WAEC further stated that the impacted applicants would be informed of the committee’s judgments through their respective institutions in due course. He encouraged candidates who were impacted by the choices to use https://waecinternational.org to file a request for redress of their cases, if they so desired.
He asserts that the council would keep penalizing instances of examination fraud. According to him, the educational system was not being aided by candidates, instructors, administrators, or schools engaging in unethical behavior.
He continued, “Therefore, in order to sanitize the system, all hands must be on deck.”
Dangut provided an additional analysis of the outcomes, stating that 1,814,736 students from 25,126 accredited secondary schools nationwide registered for the test. He stated that 896,894 male candidates and 908,322 female candidates, or 49.68% and 50.32% of the total number of candidates who took the exam, respectively, attended.
He added that of the 1,814,736 candidates that registered for the examination, only 1,805,216 sat the examination. He noted that the examination was also administered to candidates from some schools in Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, where the Nigerian curriculum for senior secondary schools was being used.
“Out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination in Nigeria, 1,685,889 candidates, representing 93.39% have their results fully processed and released while 119,327 others, representing 6.61%, have one or more of their subjects still being processed, due to some issues being resolved.
“Efforts are, however, speedily ongoing to complete the process and release the affected candidates’ results within a couple of days,” he said.
In accordance with his assertion, the examination statistics indicate that, of the 1,805,216 applicants who took the test, 1,332,089, or 73.79%, received credit and above in a minimum of five topics. He clarified that this may be done with or without math and/or English language skills.
He went on to say that a total of 1,301,941 candidates—or 72.12%—obtained credits and above in at least five disciplines, including mathematics and English language.
Six28,820, or 48.30% of the total, are male candidates, and 673,121, or 51.70%, are female candidates.
“There is a 7.69% decline in performance in the WASSCE for School in 2024 when comparing the percentage of candidates in this category between 2023 and 2024.”
This is in contrast to the 79.81% of students who received credit or higher in a minimum of five subjects, including mathematics and English language.
Dangut went on to say that 109,115 applicants with various levels of special needs registered for the test. Of the total, he claims that 145 are visually handicapped, 473 have hearing impairments, 44 are mentally and/or physically challenged, and 38 are physically challenged.
“The examination was administered with sufficient consideration for each of these candidates.
Along with the results of other candidates, “these candidates’ results have been processed and are now being released,” he said.
One of the difficulties the council had in carrying out the statewide examination was security worries, according to the WAEC head.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) called for industrial action and issued a “sit-at-home” order in the Southeast on the same days when important papers were due.
“These presented a significant risk that might have denied Nigerian candidates the opportunity to take the examination alongside their counterparts from other participating nations.” he said
“I am incredibly happy that the people of Nigeria saw fit to let candidates take all of the exams.
The council’s biggest challenge in conducting this examination was probably not everyone meeting the registration deadline.
“This problem persisted since several schools missed registration deadlines and some neglected to upload their kids’ CASS by the deadline.
Everyone should be aware that signing up for the WAEC exams is a required step in the process.
“Before the conduct of any diet, pre-examination materials, examination materials, and post-examination materials must be produced, using data supplied by candidates in good time.”
He warned that the entire procedure would be at peril if the standards weren’t met.
We kindly request your cooperation and understanding in this matter so that future exercises won’t be as taxing.
“We also had to deal with inflation and money problems.
“Everything’s cost has been impacted by the nation’s inflation rate, including the council.
“This has significantly increased the difficulties we are facing with regard to the expense of holding exams,” he continued.
He said that the smooth running of the test was impacted by the ongoing price increases and shortage of gasoline items. He explained that this was the result of the council having to transport exam materials from one location to another.
The head of WAEC also criticized several supervisors for their collusion with proprietors of illegal websites in an attempt to mislead and lower the exam’s quality.
Since some of these miscreants have already tasted their pudding, the activities of rogue website owners were not overlooked during the examination.
“A few invigilators and supervisors who were found to be complicit in exam misconduct were also prosecuted.
He said, “The council, on its part, will mete out appropriate sanctions to affected supervisors, through the various State Ministries of Education, through the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC).”
Speaking further, he stated that since the website was being updated with the results of the 2024 WASSCE for School Candidates, candidates should check and then apply for their Digital certificate, which would be released 48 hours thereafter.
He states that over the next twelve hours, candidates who have paid their dues to the council will be able to view their results on its results website, http://www.waecdirect.org.
“Schools will receive copies of the outcome listing soon.
“I don’t need to reiterate that the results of candidates supported by states owing the council won’t be made public until payment is received.
We implore those in charge to take this action in order to make the findings available to the impacted candidates and schools.
“On the candidate’s smart identity card, which is provided and utilized throughout the exam, are the Result Checker PIN and Serial Number needed by candidates to view their results online.
He said, “Within the next ninety days, counting from today, hard copies of certificates of candidates whose results have been fully processed and released will be ready.”
