The West African Examination Council has announced the results of the First Series of the new set of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates in the country and about 83% of the candidates that sat for the exam failed.
Announcing the results at the Lagos headquarters of the council in Yaba on Tuesday, the Head of the Nigeria Office, Mr. Isaac Adenipekun, said out of the 11,307 candidates that sat for the examination between January 29 and February 12, 2018, 1,937 candidates, representing 17.13 per cent, obtained credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.
Adenipekun also said the results of 1,021 candidates, representing 9.03 per cent of the total candidature for the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.
“The cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate committee of the council in due course for consideration. The committee’s decisions will be communicated to the affected candidates,” he said.
Adenipekun described the conduct of the First Series of the additional diet for private candidates as a success.
He, however, expressed the hope that it would reduce pressures on the conduct of the WASSCE for school candidates, address the do-or-die attitude of some candidates and thereby, reduce cases of examination malpractice.
In 2017 the result was better. The West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) recorded an improvement in the performance of candidates who obtained credits and above in at least six subjects by 69.54 per cent as compared with the previous year.
The Head of National Office (HNO) of the council, Mr. Olu Adenipekun, who briefed journalists, in Lagos, said out of 1,559,162 candidates that sat for the examinations with 829,853 males and 729,309 females, representing 53.22 and 46.27 percent respectively, 1,084,214 obtained six credits and above in six subjects.
He said 1,243,772 candidates, representing 79.77 per cent obtained credits and above in five subjects and that 1,357,193 candidates, representing 87.05 per cent also obtained credits and above in four subjects.
“Of the total number that sat for the examinations, 1,436,024 candidates, representing 92.44 per cent obtained credits and above in three subjects, while 1,490,356 candidates, representing 95.59 per cent obtained credits and above in two subjects,” he said, while attributing the success rate to hard work on the part of the candidates.
