Gabriel Dike, Lagos
Despite the disruption of the school exam for four months due to COVID-19, 65 per cent of candidates who wrote the May/ June 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) obtained five credits, including English and Mathematics.
Announcing the release of results in Lagos, WAEC Head of National Office, Mr Patrick Areghan, said analysis of statistics showed that 1, 538, 445 million candidates sat for the exam.
According to him, 1, 003, 668 million candidates, representing 65.24 per cent obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
”Of this number, 497,139, representing 49.53 per cent were male candidates, while 506,529, representing 50.47 per cent were female candidates.”
He said the percentage of candidates performance in 2019 WASSCE who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, was 64.18 per cent. Thus, there is a marginal 1.06 per cent improvement in performance in this regard.
Areghan said results of candidates in ten debtor states will not be released unless the state government pay the exam fees of the sponsored students.
He explained that the exam was also conducted in some schools in the Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea where the Nigeria curriculum for senior secondary school is being used.
”Remarkably, the examination was also conducted in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, the first time since the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in the area by insurgents, six years ago, ” the HNO added.
The WAEC boss said 4,280 candidates with varying degrees of special needs were registered for the exam and 230 were visually challenged, 745 had impaired hearing; 2,852 had low vision; 38 were spastic cum mentally challenged, and 58 were physically challenged, stating ”all these candidates with special needs were adequately provided for in the administration of the examination. The results of these candidates have been processed and released along with those of other candidates.”
Areghan said 1,456,727 candidates, representing 94.69 per cent have their results fully released while 81,718 candidates, representing 5.31 per cent have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors on the part of the candidates.
He noted that efforts are, however, being made to speedily complete the processing to enable all the affected candidates get their results fully processed and released, subsequently.
The results of 215,149 candidates, representing 13.98 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.
He said 1, 338, 348 million candidates, representing 86.99 per cent, got credit and above in a minimum in five subjects, with or without English Language and or Mathematics.
The HNO disclosed that results of 215, 149 candidates, representing 13.98 per cent of the number of candidates that sat for the exam are being withheld.
Areghan gave reasons for the improved performance to include, the determination of candidates to do well, four months break helped students and schools to prepare well, use of many classrooms which reduce cheating, online teaching during lockdown, provision of learning by WAEC, parents at home ensure their wards studied well and see the hand of God in the students’ performance,
He also commended parents, stakeholders, and the Lagos State government for their supports and efforts at putting in place online facilities, lessons, provision of learning outlets, that prepare students adequately for the examinations as well as ensuring they observed COVID-19 safety protocols, noting it brought out the best from candidates.