The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of the 2023 school candidate West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), while withholding the results of 262,803 candidates due to reported cases of examination malpractice.

Mr. Patrick Areghan, the Head of National Office (HNO) at WAEC, announced this during a press conference that marked the official release of the results. He highlighted that the withheld results are associated with varying forms of examination malpractice.

Areghan emphasized that the withheld results constitute 16.29% of the total candidates who participated in the examination, reflecting a decrease from the 22.83% recorded in the previous year’s school candidate diet in 2022.

The HNO attributed the rise in malpractice cases to candidates’ waning dedication to studying, lack of self-confidence, and inadequate exam preparations. He pointed out the detrimental reliance on unauthorized resources, colloquially known as “Expo,” which subsequently led to disillusionment among candidates upon discovering that the materials they relied on were deceptive.

To address these concerns, investigations into the reported cases are ongoing, and the findings will be presented to the relevant council committee for review and final decisions.

The outcomes of these deliberations will be communicated to the affected candidates through their respective schools in due course, affording them the opportunity for redress and maintaining their fundamental rights.

Areghan provided a comprehensive breakdown of the examination results, highlighting that a total of 1,621,884 candidates registered for the examination from 20,867 recognized secondary schools across the country. Out of these candidates, 1,613,733 participated in the examination.

It is noteworthy that the examination was also administered to candidates from schools in Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea, which utilize the Nigerian curriculum for Senior Secondary Schools.

Moreover, Areghan acknowledged the inclusion of candidates with varying degrees of Special Needs in the examination. Among them, 109 candidates were visually impaired, 386 had impaired hearing, 33 had spastic cum mental challenges, and 34 others had physical disabilities. Adequate provisions were made for these candidates during the examination process.

A closer look at the performance statistics revealed that 1,476,565 candidates, representing 91.5%, achieved credit and above in a minimum of five subjects. Additionally, 1,287,920 candidates, accounting for 79.81%, obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

Areghan underscored the importance of maintaining stringent measures against examination malpractice, urging all stakeholders, including supervisors, teachers, and candidates, to collaborate in upholding the integrity of the education system.

He also emphasized that state governments must settle their candidates’ registration fees with the council to access the results. Candidates can check their results online using their Smart Identity Cards used during the examination.

Concluding his address, Areghan announced an innovative development: candidates can now access their digital certificates simultaneously with their examination results, streamlining the admission process and enhancing mobility. The printing of physical certificates will commence in 90 days.

Candidates are encouraged to verify the accuracy of their registration details online to avoid future complications, and the inclusion of the National Identification Number (NIN) is now a requirement during registration.

Areghan acknowledged challenges faced during the examination’s preparation, including insecurity and non-adherence to registration deadlines.