By Gabriel Dike, Lagos

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Monday released the results of the May/June 2022 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

There was a slight decrease in the performance of candidates compared to last year’s school exam.

However, sponsored candidates in 10 states would not get their results as their state governments are indebted to WAEC.

Announcing the release of the school exam results, Head of Nigeria National Office (HNO), Patrick Areghan, said 1, 601, 047 candidates sat for the exam and 76 per cent obtained five credits, including English and Mathematics.

The council however withheld the results of 365,564 candidates involved in exam malpractice, which is higher than the 10.9 per cent recorded in 2021 WASSCE.

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“The analysis of the statistics of the performance of candidates in the exam shows that out of 1, 601, 047 million candidates that sat for the exam, 1, 409, 529 candidates, 88.04 per cent, obtained credit and above in five subjects, with or without English Language and/or Mathematics,” he said.

“One million, two hundred and twenty-two thousand, five hundred and five (1, 222, 505), candidates, representing 76.36 per cent, obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.”

Areghan disclosed that 1, 437, 629 candidates, representing 89.79 per cent had their results fully processed and released.

According to him, the results of 163, 418 candidates, representing 10. 21 per cent had few subjects still being processed due to some issues being resolved.

The HNO explained that the results of 365, 564 candidates, representing 22.83 per cent are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of exam malpractice.

“This is 11.75 per cent higher than the 10.9 per cent recorded in the WASSCE for school candidates in 2021,” he stated.

Areghan gave reasons for the poor performance of some candidates. He explained that students are not ready to learn, poor preparation for exams, and over-reliance on ‘expo’ that is non-existent.

“Candidates simply got frustrated when they got into the exam hall and discovered that all they had celebrated was fake. This has pitiably led to some of them failing the exam, which if they had relied on themselves and studied hard, would have passed like many others,” he stated.

Speaking on indebted states, the WAEC boss said: “Nothing less than 10 states have not paid for their sponsored candidates. It is only those who have paid for the 2022 WASSCE that will get results.
“It is only those who have not shown financial commitment that their candidates will have no results. No pay, no results. About 10 states have not paid.”

Areghan, who could not give the number of candidates involved, said during the conduct of the school exam, one state government called to ask if their candidates could participate in the ongoing WASSCE.

He disclosed that the council with the support of the Army, DSS and police was able to conduct the school exam in some troubled states.

The HNO acknowledged that two exams were disrupted during the seat-at-home in the South East while in Kaduna, candidates through the help of the Army were moved to safer schools to write the exam.