The results of the May/June 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) have been announced, with 72% of the 1.8 million candidates achieving at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
Dr. Amos Dangut, the Head of the Nigeria National Office (HNO) of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), highlighted that 215,267 results are currently withheld due to suspected fraud.
Dr. Dangut also noted that the results of candidates sponsored by certain states remain unreleased due to unpaid examination fees, urging governors to address the issue promptly.
The examination faced significant challenges, including threats from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and strikes by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which endangered the exam’s administration. Despite these hurdles, stakeholders intervened to ensure that students in the South East were able to complete their exams.
Out of the 1,814,736 registered candidates, 1,805,216 sat for the exam, including students from Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea, where the Nigerian curriculum is followed. Among the candidates, 109,115 had special needs, with 145 being visually impaired, 473 having impaired hearing, and others facing various physical and mental challenges. All results, including those of special needs candidates, have been processed and released.
Dr. Dangut reported that 1,685,889 candidates (93.39%) have had their results fully processed, while the remaining 119,327 (6.61%) are still awaiting the resolution of some issues. He assured that efforts are being made to finalize these results within days.
A detailed analysis revealed that 1,301,941 candidates (72.12%) earned credit passes in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. However, this marks a 7.69% decrease compared to the previous year, where 79.81% of candidates achieved similar results.
In addition, 11.92% of the candidates’ results are withheld due to examination malpractices, a notable decrease from the 16.29% recorded in 2023. Dr. Dangut expressed concern over the persistent use of cell phones in exam halls, organized cheating, and other malpractice issues. Investigations are ongoing, and affected candidates will be informed of the outcomes through their schools.
The WAEC HNO emphasized the council’s commitment to addressing malpractice and urged candidates to access their digital certificates within 48 hours of checking their results online. He also reiterated that results for state-sponsored candidates would remain withheld until outstanding fees are settled.
Dr. Dangut acknowledged the serious threats posed by the “Sit-at-home” order from IPOB and the NLC strike, which coincided with key exam dates. He praised the public’s understanding and cooperation, allowing the exams to proceed as planned. Finally, he mentioned that supervisors implicated in malpractice cases have been reported to their respective state ministries of education for disciplinary action.
