The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the release of the results of private candidates, who wrote the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), according to a statement signed by the Acting Head, Public Affairs, Moyosore Adesina.

The statement in details:

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, wishes to announce to candidates, stakeholders, and the general public that the results of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for Private Candidates, 2023–Second Series, have been released.

The examination was conducted in Nigeria between Friday, October 27, 2023 and Wednesday, December 20, 2023. The Coordination of Examiners and Marking of Candidates’ Scripts were carried out at SEVEN (7) Marking Venues in Lagos, Ibadan, Akure, Benin, Enugu, Uyo, and Kaduna from Tuesday, January 16, to Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

A total of FOUR THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-TWO (4,162) Examiners participated in the Coordination and Marking Exercise.

EIGHTY-FIVE THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED (85,600) candidates, representing 10.07% increase, when compared with the 2022 entry figure of SEVENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY-EIGHT (77,768), entered for the examination, while EIGHTY THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND FOUR (80,904) candidates sat the examination at FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-EIGHT (568) centres spread across the nooks and crannies of the country.

Amongst the candidates that sat the examination, TWO HUNDRED AND ELEVEN (211) candidates, with varying degrees of Special Needs, were registered for the examination. Out of this number, THIRTY-THREE (33) were visually challenged, TWENTY-ONE (21) had impaired hearing and THIRTY (30) were Albinos. All these candidates with special needs were adequately provided for in the administration of the examination.

Of the total number of EIGHTY THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND FOUR (80,904) candidates that sat the examination, THIRTY-NINE THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY (39,790) were males while FORTY-ONE THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN (41,114) were females, representing 49.18% and 50.82%, respectively.

Out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, SEVENTY-EIGHT THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETEEN (78,419) candidates, representing 96.93% have their results fully processed and released while TWO THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIVE (2,485) candidates, representing 3.07% have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors traceable to them. However, efforts are being made to speedily complete the processing to enable all the affected candidates to get their results fully processed and released, soon.

The analysis of the performance of the candidates shows that out of the EIGHTY THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND FOUR (80,904) candidates that sat the examination: FORTY-SIX THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVEN (46,267) candidates representing 57.19% obtained credit and above in a minimum of FIVE (5) subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics); THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED AND THIRTY (35,830) candidates representing 44.29% obtained credit and above in a minimum of FIVE (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

Of this number, SEVENTEEN THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY-ONE (17,631) i.e., 49.21% were male candidates, while EIGHTEEN THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-NINE (18,199), i.e., 50.79% were female candidates. The percentage of candidates in this category in WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2021 and 2022 – Second Series, that is, those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, were 48.61% and 42.16% respectively. Thus, there is a marginal increase of 2.13% in performance in this regard.

This analysis, however, cannot be compared with that of WASSCE for School Candidates. Whereas the candidates in WASSCE for School Candidates are compelled to sit eight or nine subjects, the candidates in WASSCE for Private Candidates, though can register for eight or nine subjects, are not compelled to take all. They are free to sit, even one subject, depending on the deficiency they want to remedy. For them, therefore, the examination is only a remedial one – a remedy for an existing deficiency. From the above, it will not be true or fair to say that the performance in this examination has dwindled.

The results of SEVEN THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-TWO (7,192) candidates, representing 8.89% of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice. The cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for consideration. Thereafter, the Committee’s decisions will be communicated directly to the affected candidates.

Candidates may check their results by visiting www.waecdirect.org and ascertain their status before visiting the Digital Certificate platform (www.waec.org) to access the digital copies of their certificates, which have been released along with their results. Candidates may also be required to apply for the printing of the hard copies of their certificates, online, through the WAEC Certificate Request Portal (e-Certman) website: https://certrequest.waec.ng/.

WAEC-Nigeria would like to congratulate all candidates who have worked hard and achieved great results. Our profound gratitude also goes to the Government at all levels, Security Agencies, Ministries of Education, Staff, Supervisors, Invigilators, Custodians, Examiners, and other Ad-hoc personnel who, despite all odds, availed the Council of their services in ensuring the successful conduct of the examination and marking of scripts. The results are a testament to their dedication and hard work. We wish all the candidates the best in their future endeavours.

Once again, we assure all our stakeholders of our dedication and commitment to serving the Nigerian Child.