The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has announced that the 2021 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) would commence on Monday, August 16, 2021.
This announcement was made on Tuesday by the Head of WAEC Nigeria’s office, Mr. Patrick Areghan.
Areghan said, “In accordance with the Final International Timetable, the WASSCE 2021 will take place throughout the sub-region from Monday, 16th August to Friday, 8th October 2021.
However, the examination will end in Nigeria on 30 September 2021 spanning a period of seven weeks”.
According to him, WAEC is expecting about 1.6 million candidates to sit for the 2021 WASSCE, and about 25,000 senior teachers would be appointed as examination supervisors.
The WAEC boss also revealed that the examination was shifted from the month of May/June to August because of disruptions caused by COVID-19. He further said that COVID-19 health and safety protocols would be applied in all WAEC centers.
Areghan also stated that the council has a zero-tolerance policy to so-called ‘Special’ or ‘Miracle’ centres where candidates are promised cheap grades by ‘examination contractors’.
He said, “In conducting this examination, we also want to ensure that the lives of all those involved, including council’s staff, and materials are properly secure.”
He also noted that WASSCE Certificate was internationally accepted and it was necessary to protect its integrity.
“Therefore, in order not allow anything to reduce that standard, we shall be collaborating with the federal and state ministries of health and education as well as the police and other security agencies.
“This is in a bid to ensure that all precautionary measures are in place before, during and after the examination,” Areghan said.