WAEC records mass failure of candidates

 

Only 31% obtained five credits including English and Mathematics

 For the fourth consecutive year, candidates who sat for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) recorded mass failure. Only 529, 425 (31.28 per cent) obtained five credits including English and Mathematics.Announcing the results at WAEC headquarters in Lagos yesterday, the Head of National Office (HNO), Mr. Charles Eguridu, said 150 blind candidates also sat the exam, out which 21 (14 per cent )of them recorded five credits including English Language.

The HNO declined to disclose the performance of Chibok candidates who sat the examination in Borno State, noting that WAEC staff went to the North-East to conduct the examination and joined Nigerians in praying for the release of the Chibok girls.

He said during the May/June 2014 WASSCE, the council introduced a device known as Candidates Identity Verification, Attendance, Malpractice and Post Examinations Management System (CIVAMPEMS), stressing the ICT-driven device allowed supervisors and staff to address and record the processes in real time, on the day of the examination.

Mr. Eguridu noted that the results of 145,795 candidates, representing 8.61 per cent are being withheld over examination malpractices, which were reported both during the conduct and marking of the exam.

Giving a breakdown of candidates’ performances, Mr. Eguridu said, “in all, a total of 529,425 candidates, representing 31.28 per cent, obtained credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics. When compared to the 2012 and 2013 exercise, “there is marginal decline in the performance of candidates’’.

According to him, in 2012 WASSCE, 649,156 (38.81 per cent), 2013 WASSCE, 610,334 (36.57 per cent) obtained five credits including English Language and Maths as against the results of 2014 WASSCE where 529,425 candidates, representing 31.28 per cent recorded five credits including the two important subjects.

His said: “In the May/June 2014 WASSCE, 1,705,976 candidates registered for the examination, out of  which 1,692,435 candidates, consisting of 929,075 male and 763,360 female candidates sat the examination. Of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, 1,605,613 candidates, representing 94.87 per cent have their results fully released, while 86,822 candidates, representing 5.13 per cent have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors, mainly traceable to laxity on the part of the candidates and the schools, in the course of registration or writing the examination’’.

The WAEC boss disclosed that such errors are being corrected by the council to enable the affected candidates get their results fully processed and released as soon as they are ready.

Eguridu noted that of the number of candidates that sat the examination, 791,227 candidates, representing 46.75 per cent obtained six credits and above, 982,472 candidates representing 58.05 per cent, obtained five credits and above

He noted that in addition 1,148,262 candidates, representing 67.84 per cent, obtained credits and above in four subjects, while 1,293,389 candidates, representing 76.42 per cent obtained credits and above in three subjects while a total of 1,426,926 candidates, representing 84.31 per cent, obtained credits and above in two subjects.

On the withheld results of 145,795 candidates, Eguridu said their cases are being investigated and the reports of the investigations would be presented in November to the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC), the highest decision-making organ of the council on examination-related matters for consideration.

He said the decisions of NEC would be communicated to the affected candidates through their schools, urging candidates who sat for the May/June 2014 WASSCE to check the details of their performances on the council’s results website www.waecdirect.org within the next 24 hours.

The WAEC boss commended the staff whose dedication to duty contributed immensely to the successes recorded during the conduct, marking and processing of the results.

Eguridu told “prospective candidates, for both the May/June and November/December WASSCE diets, should note that, henceforth, bringing in any other non-approved Mathematical set or calculator into examination halls would not be allowed. Models of the WAEC-customised Mathematical set would be made available to schools to assist them in preparing their candidates for the council’s examinations’’.

On the decline in candidates’ performances, the HNO said for la ong time, stakeholders have been blaming the government and the schools without looking at the parent angle, stressing “it’s unfair to blame the schools or government for candidates’ poor results.