Funmi Ogundare
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), yesterday announced the release of the results of candidates that sat for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)2021 with a total of 1,274,784 candidates, representing 81.7 per cent obtaining credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, out of the 1,560,261 candidates that sat for the examination.
The Nigerian Head of National Office ( HNO) of WAEC, Mr. Patrick Areghan who briefed journalists in Lagos, said out of the number, 630,138, (49.43 per cent), were male candidates, while 644,646 (50.57 per cent) were female candidates.
He explained that the percentage of candidates in this category in the WASSCE for school candidates in 2020, for those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, was 65.24 per cent, saying that there is an appreciable 16.46 per cent improvement in performance in that regard.
He said a total of 1,573,849 candidates registered for the examination from 19,425 recognised secondary schools in the country, adding that the examination was also administered to candidates from some schools in Benin Republic and Cote d’Ivoire, where the Nigeria curriculum for senior secondary school is being used.
“ Schools in Equatorial Guinea could not present candidates for the examination due to logistic challenges posed by COVID-19, “the HNO said.
The analysis of the statistics of the performance of candidates in the examination shows that out of the 1,560,261 candidates that sat for the examination, 1,398,370 candidates, representing 89.62 per cent obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects (i.e with or without English Language and/ or Mathematics).
“Of this number, 630,138, (49.43 per cent), were male candidates, while 644,646 (50.57 per cent), were female candidates. The percentage of candidates in this category in the WASSCE for school candidates, 2020, that is, those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, was 65.24 per cent.
“Thus, there is an appreciable 16.46 per cent improvement in performance in this regard,” Areghan stressed.
He said a total of 1,539 candidates, with varying degrees of special needs, registered for the examination, out of this number, 460 were visually challenged, 582 had impaired hearing; 362 were spastic cum mentally challenged while 59 were physically challenged.
“All these candidates were adequately provided for in the administration of the examination. The results of these candidates have been processed and are also being released along with those of other candidates,” he said.
Out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, Areghan noted that 1,256,990 candidates, representing 80.56 per cent have their results fully processed and released while 303,271 candidates, representing 19.44 per cent have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some issues being resolved. “
While appealing to debtor states who are still owing the council, the HNO said efforts are, however, being made to speedily complete the processing to enable all the affected candidates get their results fully processed and released within the next one week.
He said 170,146 candidates, representing 10.9 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.
“Of great worry here is the activities of rogue-website operators and some other social media platforms, who post examination questions online immediately after the commencement of the paper being administered. The increasing use of cell phones in the examination hall, in spite
of the existing ban, and organised cheating in some schools, are other big concerns. All the cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for determination in due course. The Committee’s decisions will be communicated to the affected candidates through their various schools.”
The results of candidates, he said are being uploaded on the results website.
“Candidates who sat the examination and who have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Council can access their performance on the Council’s results website: www.waecdirect.org.”
