Nov/Dec WASSCE: 71% of candidates fail English, Maths

Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike

More than 70 per cent of candidates who wrote this year’s November/December West African Senior School Certificate   Examination  might not gain admission to the nation’s universities  have revealed.

Reason: the candidates failed to obtain the required credits in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

For one to gain admission to the university in the country, one must obtain at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics in WASSCE or Senior Secondary Certificate Examination conducted by the National Examinations Council.

The West African Examinations Council announced the release of the Nov/Dec WASSCE results on Thursday in Lagos.

The WAEC Head of National Office, Mr. Charles Eguridu, while announcing this, also said the council withheld results of 38,260 candidates, representing 12.88 per cent, over alleged examination malpractice.

Three hundred and eight thousand, two hundred and seventeen candidates registered for the private examination.

According to Eguridu, only 86, 612 (29.17 per cent) of the candidates obtained credits in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

In other words, 70.83 per cent of the candidates failed to obtain credits in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

This year’s result, when compared to that of 2011 and 2012, he said, showed a decline in candidates’ performance.

He explained that in the 2011 Nov/Dec examination, 139,287 candidates, representing 36.07 per cent, obtained five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics; while 150, 615, representing 37.97 per cent, obtained the same result in the 2012 Nov/Dec examination. 

Giving further details, Eguridu noted that of the registered candidates this year, 296,827 of them – comprising 163, 659 males and 133,168 females – wrote the examination.

He explained, “Of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, 120,115 candidates (40.46 per cent), obtained six credits and above; 161,721 candidates, representing 54.48 per cent, obtained five credits and above.

“In addition, 198,832 candidates, representing 66.98 per cent, obtained credits and above in four subjects; while 230,325 candidates, representing 77.59 per cent, obtained credits and above in three subjects.  A total of 256,500 candidates (86.41 per cent) obtained credits and above in two subjects.”

He also explained that of the 82 blind candidates that sat the examination, 17 of them, representing 20.73 per cent, obtained credits in five subjects, including English Language.

On withheld results, the HNO said investigation was still ongoing in the cases, adding that the outcome would be presented to the council’s Nigerian Examinations Committee for consideration.

He, however, noted that there was “a drastic reduction” in impersonation of candidates following the introduction of biometric technology in the council’s examination registration process.

From May/June 2014 WASSCE, Eguridu said the council would deploy a “contactless Radio Frequency Identification smart card” in the conduct of its examinations.

The RFID, he said, would ensure easy and accurate identification, automated attendance register, instant malpractice reporting and effective post examination management.

He added, “In view of the council’s zero-tolerance for examination malpractice and the increased use of mobile handsets by candidates during examinations, the council has made it mandatory for all schools to provide serviceable metal detectors which would be used to prevent candidates from smuggling mobile handsets into examination halls.

“Of the total number of candidates,  299,784, representing 97.26 per cent, have their results fully released; while 8,433 candidates, representing  2.74 per cent, have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors said to be traceable to the candidates and cyber cafes during registration or writing the examination. 

Such errors are being corrected by the Council to enable the affected candidates get their results.”

Meanwhile, Eguridu has asked candidates who wrote the examination to begin to check the details of their results via the council’s website within the next 36 hours.