61 Per Cent Fail English/Maths In 2015 WASSCE –WAEC

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The West African Examinations Council has withheld the May/June 2015 West African Senior School Certificate Examination results of hundreds of candidates from 13 states in the country. This comes as the council stated that only 616, 370 candidates obtained credit in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. The candidates represented 38.68 per cent of the candidates who sat for the examination. One million, five hundred and ninety-three thousand and four hundred and forty-two candidates, comprising 864,096 males and 729,346 females, sat for the examination.

The Punch report continues:

The WAEC Head of National Office, Mr. Charles Eguridu, made this known on Monday while releasing the result of the May/June 2015 WASSCE in Lagos.

He also announced that 118,101 candidates had their results withheld for alleged involvement in examination malpractice.

He explained, “Of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, 758,849 candidates, representing 47.62 per cent obtained six credits and above; 949,862 candidates, representing 59.61 per cent obtained five credits and above, while 1,114,988 candidates, representing 69.97 per cent obtained credit and above in four subjects.

“In addition, 1,295,915 candidates, representing 78.81 per cent obtained credit and above in three subjects, while 1,376,743 candidates, representing 86.40 per cent obtained credit and above in two subjects. However, 616,370 candidates, representing 38.68 per cent, obtained credit in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.”

To gain admission to the nation’s university, a candidate is expected to obtain credit in five subjects, including English and Mathematics

On the debtor states, the council alleged that they did not pay their candidates’ examination registration fees.

He, however, did not name the 13 debtor states.

The affected candidates, mainly government-sponsored candidates, Eguridu said, would only have their results if their states showed enough commitment to offsetting the debts.

The HNO said, “After reviewing the situation, the council has decided that the results of government-sponsored candidates of indebted states would be released if such states endeavour to produce bank guarantees, so that the council will be assured that the fees will be paid. This decision is in appreciation of the general prevailing economic challenges in the country, and in order not to jeopardize the educational careers of the candidates of the indebted states.”

Eguridu, who urged candidates to check their results on Tuesday, noted that public schools whose results were not on the council’s website should consider it to mean that their states were indebted to WAEC.

The council had, two weeks ago, threatened to withhold the results, claiming that 19 states owed it about N4bn debts arising from the examination registration fees.

Meanwhile, the Education Rights Campaign has condemned the West African Examination Council’s decision to withhold results of candidates from states that have defaulted on the body’s registration fees.

The ERC National Coordinator, Mr. Taiwo Soweto, in a statement in Lagos on Monday, described the directive as ‘insensitive’ and called on the examination body to reverse its decision immediately.

According to the group, withholding the results of candidates from affected states would be an ethical violation of the provisions of the Child Right Act 2003.

The statement read, “As a public institution, WAEC is obligated by the Child Right Act (2003) to make the best interest of the child the paramount consideration in all actions.

Results Of 95, 373 Candidates Still Being Processed- WAEC

The West African Examination Council has said that the results of 95,373 candidates are still being processed and added that candidates can check their result on the website www.waecdirect.org in 24 hours.

Speaking at a press conference, the head of WAEC National Office, Charles Eguridu, said the result were still pending due to some errors mainly by candidates and schools in the course of registration or writing the examination.

Mr.Eguridu said the errors were being corrected by the Council to enable the affected candidates get their results.

He added that a total number of 109 blind candidates registered and sat for the examination.

He said 20 of the 109 blind candidates obtained credit in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

Mr.Eguridu said while 1,605,248 registered for the exams, 1,593,442 candidates, consisting of 864,096 males and 729,346 females, sat for the examination.

He added that due to the high incidence of lost or missing certificates, the Council has introduced “Attestation of Results” which can be obtained on request, to serve as replacement since the board doed not offer certificates twice.

Mr.Eguridu added that investigations were being carried out on candidates whose result were withheld in connection with examination malpractice and reports of the investigations would be presented to the Nigerian Examinations Committee of the Council in due course for consideration.

He added that the Committee’s decisions would be communicated to the affected candidates through their schools.

Mr. Eguridu said some states owing the council paid their debts fully or partially, while a few others made promises to pay as soon as they are able.

Others, he said, have not made any efforts to address the matter.

He added that after reviewing the situation, the Council decided that the results of government-sponsored candidates of indebted states would be released if such states produce bank guarantees.

Mr. Eguridu explained that the decision was made in consideration of the prevailing economic challenges in the country, and in order not to jeopardize the educational careers of the candidates of the indebted states.