WAEC Records 80% Pass in Maths, English Language

Funmi Ogundare

The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) yesterday announced the release of results of the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates in Nigeria.

The Head of National Office (HNO), Mr. Patrick Areghan, who briefed journalists in Lagos, stated that out of a total of 1,613,733 candidates that sat the examination, 1,287,920 candidates, representing 79.81 per cent, obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

Of this number, he explained that 616,914 representing 47.9 per cent were male candidates, while 671,006, representing 52.1 per cent were female candidates.

He compared the percentage of candidates under this category with the 2022 WASSCE which was 76.36 per cent, for school candidates, who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, saying there was a 3.45 per cent decrease in performance.

The analysis of the statistics of the performance of candidates in the examination showed that out of the 1,613,733 candidates that sat the examination, 1,361,608 candidates, representing 84.38 per cent, obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects (i.e with or without English Language and/ or Mathematics).

The WAEC boss explained that out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination in Nigeria, 1,476,565 candidates, representing 91.5 per cent, have their results fully processed and released while 137,168 candidates, representing 8.5 per cent, have some of their subjects still being processed due to some shortcomings, non-challant, lethargy, incomplete CASS upload, disobedience of rubrics, among others associated with the schools and candidates concerned. 

“However, efforts are being made to complete the resolution process to enable all the affected candidates to speedily get their results fully processed and released within the next couple of days,” he added.

Areghan, however expressed concern about the results of 262,803 candidates, representing 16.29 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, saying that they were being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.

“This is 6.54 per cent lower than the 22.83 per cent recorded in the WASSCE for school candidates, 2022.  The reasons for this are not far-fetched.  Candidates are no longer ready to study, they lack self-confidence and preparations for examinations are poor. 

“There is over-reliance on the so-called ‘expo’, which is non-existent.  Candidates got frustrated when they got to the examination hall and discovered that all they had celebrated was fake.

“This has pitiably led to some of them failing the examination, which, if they had relied on themselves and studied adequately, would have passed like many others.”

The Council, he noted, would continue to sanction all cases of examination malpractice, adding that schools, supervisors, teachers and candidates perpetrating the evil were not helping the educational system. 

Areghan whose tenure as HNO is ending said, “It is the child whose future is being destroyed.  Parents must stop funding the so-called ‘expo’ for their children; it does not help.

“Those who indulge in posting items on designated platforms do not mean well for the candidates.

“They are simply destroying the future of our children. We can assure you that perpetrators and beneficiaries of such ‘help’ will never go unpunished. This must not be allowed to continue.  It is our collective responsibility to defeat this evil.”