48.61% of private candidates get credit in 2021 WASSCE

The West African Examinations Council says 48.61 per cent of candidates that sat for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for Private Candidates, 2021 Second Series, made five credits and above in five subjects, including English and Mathematics.

Announcing the result yesterday at the WAEC headquarters in Yaba, Lagos, the Head of National Office, Mr. Patrick Areghan, said it was an improvement on the performance recorded in 2019 and 2020.

He said, “Twenty-five thousand and eight (25,008) candidates, representing 48.61 per cent, obtained Credits and above in a minimum of five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

“Of this number, 12,272 (49.07 per cent) were male candidates, while 12,736 (50.93 per cent) were female candidates. The percentage of candidates in this category in the WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2019 and 2020, that is, those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, were 35.99 per cent and 39.82 per cent, respectively. Thus, there is an encouraging 8.79 per cent improvement in performance in this regard.”

Areghan said 3,968 candidates would not be able to check their results immediately as they are being investigated for examination malpractices.

Speaking on the National Identity Number (NIN) being a requirement for registration for the council’s examinations for both school and private candidates, Areghan said WAEC would not debar candidates without NIN from taking the examination.

“We have developed our portal in such a way that we can introduce the NIN at any time. Non-possession of NIN is not a hindrance to registration for our examination and no candidate will be debarred from writing the examination because of NIN,” he said.

Speaking on plans for the Council’s 70th anniversary next month, the HNO said the milestone would be celebrated during the annual Council meeting holding March 14-18 in Abuja.

He said the event would feature an endowment lecture to be delivered by former Edo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Osarenren, of the University of Lagos, and a ceremony to be opened by President Muhammadu Buhari.