The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has withheld the results of over 215,267 candidates who sat for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) over alleged examination malpractice. This was disclosed in a statement issued during a briefing on Monday Dr. Amos Dangut, the Head of WAEC’s Nigeria Office, adding that this is a 4.37 percent decrease from the 16.29 percent recorded during the 2023 WASSCE for school candidates.
He said, “The withheld results of these candidates that sat for the examination are in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.
“The increasing use of cell phones in the examination hall, in spite of the existing ban and organised cheating in some schools, are other nagging issues.
“All the cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate committee of the council, for consideration and final decisions.”
According to him, a total of 1,814,736 candidates registered for the examination with 896,894 are male, while 908,322 others are female, representing 49.68 per cent and 50.32 per cent, respectively.
He further stated only 1,805,216 sat the examination out of the 1,814,736 candidates that registered, adding that candidates from schools in Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, where the Nigerian curriculum for senior secondary schools was being used.
The Council reiterated its commitment “to upholding the integrity of its examinations” and further stated that all reported cases of examination malpractice are still under investigation and findings will be forwarded to the appropriate committee of the Council for review and further action.