The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has released the results of the first-ever Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for private candidates, 2024 – first series.
The examination took place between Wednesday, January 31, and Saturday, February 17, 2024.
A total of 8,139 candidates sat the examination at 140 CBT centres nationwide.
According to the examination body, a total of 2,519 candidates, amounting to 30.95 per cent of the 8,139 candidates who sat the examination at 140 CBT centres across the country, obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
WAEC noted that 3,424 candidates representing 42.07 per cent obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics).
The entry figure (8,362) of the examination which was conducted between Wednesday, 31 January and Saturday, 17 February, showed a 4.30 per cent decrease in candidature when compared with the 2023 entry figure of 8,738.
Announcing the results in a statement signed by the Acting Head of the Public Affairs Unit, Moyosola Adesina, the Head of Nigeria’s Office of WAEC, Amos Dangut, said 3,862, amounting to 47.45 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat the examination were male, while 4,277, amounting to 52.55 per cent of the candidates were female.
Amongst the candidates that sat the examination, the statement noted that 21 were with varying degrees of special needs. Nine were visually challenged, two had impaired hearing and two were albinos, WAEC said.
The examination body also noted that a total of 459 examiners participated in the coordination and marking exercise.
The examination body further noted that the results of 65 candidates, representing 0.80 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld for various reported cases of examination malpractice.
It, however, admitted that the CBT examination method for WASSCE “drastically reduced examination malpractices”, when compared to reported cases of 413 candidates (4.95 per cent) recorded for WASSCE for private candidates in the 2023-first series.
“These reported cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate committee of the Council for consideration,” it noted.
“Thereafter, the committee’s decisions will be communicated directly to the affected candidates.”
WAEC had in November 2023 announced that it had concluded plans to conduct its WASSCE for private candidates using the computer-based model, which was met with criticism from Nigerians.