WAEC Withholds 215,267 WASSCE Results Over Examination Malpractice
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has withheld the results of 215,267 candidates who participated in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), citing concerns over examination malpractice. This figure represents 11.92% of the 1,805,216 candidates who took the exam across the four WAEC member countries: Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
The announcement was made by Dr. Amos Dangut, the Head of WAEC’s Nigeria Office, during a briefing on Monday. Dr. Dangut explained that the withheld results stemmed from various reported instances of malpractice during the examination, which took place from April 30 to June 24, 2024. Despite the significant number, he noted that the percentage of withheld results in 2024 was lower by 4.37% compared to the previous year, where 16.29% of candidates faced similar sanctions.
“The Council remains committed to upholding the integrity of its examinations,” Dr. Dangut stated. He issued a stern warning to schools, supervisors, teachers, and candidates involved in malpractice, emphasizing that such actions jeopardize the educational system and will result in strict penalties.
Examination malpractice has been a persistent challenge for WAEC, with Dr. Dangut highlighting the increasing use of mobile phones in examination halls—despite a strict ban—and organized cheating in some schools as significant concerns. He reassured the public that all reported cases are currently under investigation, and the findings will be submitted to the Council’s appropriate committee for review. Decisions made by this committee will be communicated to the affected candidates through their respective schools.
WAEC has also provided a platform on their website for candidates to seek redress if they wish to contest the decisions regarding their withheld results.
On a positive note, Dr. Dangut shared encouraging news about the overall performance of candidates in the 2024 WASSCE. According to the data, 73.79% of candidates achieved credit or higher in at least five subjects, with or without English Language and/or Mathematics. This represents 1,332,089 candidates out of the total number who sat for the examination.
Dr. Dangut encouraged successful candidates to apply for their Digital Certificates, which will be available 48 hours after they check their results online. He also advised those who have met their financial obligations to the Council to access their results on the official WAEC results website within the next 12 hours. Additionally, copies of the Result Listing will be dispatched to schools shortly.
The release of the 2024 WASSCE results marks the culmination of a rigorous assessment process. Despite the challenges of maintaining examination integrity, WAEC continues to play a crucial role in evaluating the academic achievements of students across West Africa. The Council’s efforts to address malpractice and enhance the credibility of its examinations are central to its mission of upholding educational standards in the region.
