West African Examinations Council (WAEC), on Monday held a conference with the media, aimed at intimating candidates as well as other stakeholders, of the Council’s preparedness for the conduct of the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates in Nigeria.
Addressing participants at the forum in Lagos, the Council’s Head of National Office in Nigeria, Dr. Amos Dangut said: “Distinguished Gentlemen of the Press, I am delighted to inform you that WASSCE for School Candidates, 2024 will take place between Tuesday, April 30 and Monday, June 24, 2024 in Nigeria, spanning seven (07) weeks and six (06) days.
“The examination will be conducted in four WAEC member countries, namely: Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra-Leone and Liberia.
“A total of One Million, Eight Hundred and Fourteen Thousand, Three Hundred and Forty-Four (1,814,344) candidates from Twenty-Two Thousand Two Hundred and Twenty-Nine ( 22,229) schools have registered for the examination. Out of this number, Nine Hundred and Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty-Eight (902,328) are males, amounting to 49.73%, while Nine Hundred and Twelve Thousand, and Sixteen (912,016) are females, which is 50.27% of the total candidature. ”
He explained that the statistics show a further increase in the number of females and males respectively, compared to last year.
Notably, the candidature for this year increased by One Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-Eight (192,948).
He went on to state that candidates would be examined in Seventy-six (76) subjects, made up of One Hundred and Ninety-Seven (197) papers and that about Thirty Thousand (30,000) practicing senior secondary school teachers, nominated by various Ministries of Education, will supervise the examination.
He hinted that, in line with the directive of the Federal Government, the National Identification Number (NIN) has been made a component of the registration process, adding that throughout the registration exercise, the registration portal allowed candidates to submit their NIN, without hindrance.
Dangut also expressed the council’s security consciousness.
Said he, “Gentlemen of the Press, we cannot feign ignorance of the level of insecurity in the country. Conducting examinations has been challenging. Instances of insecurity exist in many places across the Country, and conducting examinations in insecurity-prone areas would require extra security arrangements.
“Consequently, we are liaising with the Inspector General of Police and State governments to provide adequate security to ensure that the examination is conducted nationally in a safe and secure environment.
“The Council appreciates the continued support received from the Nigeria Police as partners in actualizing its goals during the conduct of its examinations.”
He said the Council would deal decisively deals with candidates and examination functionaries who engage in acts of examination malpractice of any kind. Reminding candidates and invigilators that penalties for involvement in examination malpractice would be meted out on them upon establishment of culpability by the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC), which is the highest decision-making organ of the Council.
The HNO further explained that the Council, on its part, has rolled out several awareness campaigns nationwide, and organized seminars for school proprietors, principals, students and other key stakeholders, to sensitize them on the immediate and long-drawn effects of examination malpractice.
“It is therefore, on this note that, I call on parents and guardians to encourage their wards to study diligently and desist from engaging in any form of examination malpractice. The mass media must come in handy, as the effort to rid our nation of this menace is a collective responsibility.
“The various Ministries of Education should call their principals, teachers and other officials serving as inspectors and/or supervisors, to order. School principals and teachers should sensitize their students on the dangers of this terrible crime against humanity. Every candidate and examination functionary must play by the rules, which are well stipulated in the WAEC examination Syllabuses and Guidelines for the conduct of examination, issued to schools.
“Erring schools would be derecognised; erring officials would be adequately punished, while erring candidates would lose their results, if found culpable.” He admonished.
Dangut also had hard words for operators of rogue websites, warning that WAEC will not condone their heinous acts during the conduct of the examination, cautioning Parents to “desist from patronising these evil-doers who are hell-bent on frustrating the efforts of WAEC.”
He advised candidates to take advantage of the compilation of past questions with the marking schemes into a booklet, resource material WAEC has provided, to enhance their study and preparedness for the examination.
