WAEC records ‘mass failure’ in February diet exam

1,937 out of 11,727 pass English, Mathematics

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) yesterday released the result of its newly-introduced February diet for private candidates with only 1,937 out of 11,727 candidates who sat for the examination, obtaining minimum credits and above in five subjects, including English and Mathematics.

The figure, representing 17.13 per cent, was lower than the 26.01 per cent recorded for private candidates in 2017. A summary of the result, as announced by the council’s Head of National Office (HNO), Mr. Olu Adenipekun, during a briefing held at the council’s national office, Yaba, showed that 8,113 candidates, representing 71.75 per cent, obtained credits and above in two subjects; 6,375 candidates, representing 56.38 per cent, obtained credits in three subjects while 4,762 candidates, representing 42.12 per cent, obtained credits in four subjects.

He also disclosed that results of 1,021 candidates, representing 9.03 per cent, are still being held over reported cases of examination malpractices.The HNO stated that the cases were being investigated and reports would be presented to the appropriate committee of the council in due course for consideration.Adenipekun, who expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of candidates in the examination, said: “ When you compare the percentage of candidates with credit pass in five subjects, including English and Mathematics, with what we had in 2017, this is lower and not satisfactory.”

He, therefore, expressed hope that candidates’ performance would improve as time goes on by taking future examinations serious.The HNO, however, said he was impressed with the response of Nigerians to the new diet, which was newly-introduced for private candidates.

Adenipekun, who stated that the new diet for private candidates would reduce pressure on the conduct of examination for school candidates while also addressing the do-or-die attitude of others, thus reducing their tendency for involvement in examination malpractices, said: “The additional diet of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates is part of WAEC’s contributions to the efforts of government at all levels to bring about expansion in educational opportunities in West African sub-region.