Waec News 2024: Latest Updates And Announcements

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has recently made several key announcements concerning the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results and ongoing issues surrounding the examination process. Here's an overview of the latest updates:

Release of 2024 WASSCE Results

WAEC has officially released the results for the 2024 WASSCE for School Candidates. This announcement was made on September 14, 2024. Out of 1,805,216 candidates who sat for the exams, 72% passed with at least five credits, including English and Mathematics. This marks a 7.6% decrease in performance compared to the previous year. However, some results remain withheld due to suspected examination malpractice, affecting over 215,000 students.

Examination Malpractice and Withheld Results

WAEC continues to grapple with widespread exam malpractice. In 2024, 11.92% of results were withheld due to various cases of cheating, such as the use of mobile phones during exams and organized cheating by some schools and invigilators. This figure represents a reduction compared to 2023, showing that WAEC's intensified efforts to curb malpractice are yielding some results.

Additionally, WAEC has issued stern warnings to schools and invigilators found to be charging candidates for illegal assistance, with amounts ranging between GHC200 and GHC50.

Challenges During the 2024 Examination

WAEC also faced challenges related to security and logistics. Issues such as the "sit-at-home" order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and industrial actions by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) coincided with major examination days, particularly in Eastern Nigeria. This, coupled with inflation and logistical difficulties, posed significant challenges to the administration of the exams.

Despite these challenges, WAEC successfully managed the examination process across Nigeria and other West African countries like Benin Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea, where the Nigerian Senior Secondary School curriculum is used. Provisions were also made for over 100,000 candidates with special needs, including those with visual, hearing, and physical impairments.

Warnings Against Exam Malpractice

In light of these issues, WAEC has taken a strong stance against malpractice, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the examination process. Schools, invigilators, and teachers caught engaging in illegal activities will face strict sanctions. WAEC has also deployed agents to investigate reports of cheating and other malpractices.

Looking Ahead

As WAEC continues to evolve and address challenges, it remains committed to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process. Stakeholders are encouraged to uphold the values of integrity and honesty to help protect the future of education across the West African region.

The 2024 WASSCE examinations are expected to conclude by September 20, 2024, and students are advised to remain vigilant for further announcements from WAEC regarding the release of withheld results and other updates.