By Eric Elezuo

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), according to a statement by Ag. Head, Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, has released the results of the first-ever Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB- WASSCE) for Private Candidates, 2024–First Series.

The statement noted that 2,519 candidates obtained at least five credits including English and Mathematics.

Read the statement in full:

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, wishes to announce to candidates, stakeholders, and the general public that the results of the first-ever Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB- WASSCE) for Private Candidates, 2024–First Series, have been released.

Recall that the Council, in line with emerging best practices and continuous quest for excellence in its service delivery, commenced migration from the traditional Paper-Based Examinations (PBE) to Computer-Based Examinations (CBE) for its Private Candidates examinations. The novel CB-WASSCE entailed using a hybrid method where all questions were projected on the computer. Whereas answers to the multiple-choice questions were supplied on the computer real-time, answers to the essay and test of practical questions were supplied in booklets given to the candidates.

The examination was conducted between Wednesday, January 31 and Saturday, February 17, 2024. The Coordination of Examiners and Marking of Candidates’ Scripts were carried out at THREE (3) Marking Venues in Lagos, Enugu and Kaduna from March 1 to 16, 2024. A total of FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY-NINE (459) Examiners participated in the Coordination and Marking Exercise.

The entry figure of EIGHT THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-TWO (8,362) candidates showed a 4.30% decrease in candidature when compared with the 2023 entry figure of EIGHT THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHT (8,738). EIGHT THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-NINE (8,139) candidates sat the examination at ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY (140) CBT centres spread across the country.

Amongst the candidates that sat the examination, TWENTY-ONE (21) candidates, with varying degrees of Special Needs, were registered for the examination. Out of this number, NINE (9) were visually challenged, TWO (2) had impaired hearing and TWO (2) were Albinos. All these candidates with special needs were adequately catered for in the administration of the examination.

Of the total number of EIGHT THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-NINE (8,139) candidates that sat the examination, THREE THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIXTY-TWO (3,862) were male while FOUR THOUSAND, TWO
HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVEN (4,277) were female, representing 47.45% and 52.55%, respectively.

Out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, EIGHT THOUSAND AND SIX (8,006) candidates, representing 98.37% have their results fully processed and released while ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THREE (133) candidates, representing 1.63% 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, subsequently.

The analysis of candidates’ performance showed that out of the EIGHT THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-NINE (8,139) candidates that sat the examination:
 THREE THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR (3,424) candidates representing 42.07% obtained credit and above in a minimum of FIVE (5) subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics);
 TWO THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN (2,519) candidates representing 30.95% obtained credit and above in a minimum of FIVE (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

Of this number, ONE THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SIX (1,286), i.e. 51.05% were male candidates, while ONE THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THREE (1,233), i.e. 48.95% were female candidates. The percentage of candidates in this category in WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2022 and 2023 – First Series, that is, those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, were 26.32% and 23.99% respectively. Thus, there is a marginal increase of 6.96% in performance in this regard.

SIXTY-FIVE (65) candidates’ results, representing 0.80% of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld for various reported cases of examination malpractice. Comparatively, the reported cases of FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN (413) candidates or 4.95% recorded for WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2023-First Series evidently reveal that the method of examination administration drastically reduced examination malpractices. These reported 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. Meanwhile, candidates whose results are being held/withheld can apply for redress by visiting https://waecinternational.org/complaints to register their complaints.

Candidates may check their results by visiting www.waecdirect.org to 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 will be required to apply for the printing of the hard copies of their certificates online, through the WAEC Certificate Request Portal (e-Certman). The portal address is 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 excellent service delivery.