The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced that more than 1.8 million candidates are expected to participate in this year's West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, which commences today and concludes on Monday, June 24.
In a statement issued by Dr. Josiah Dangut, the Head of WAEC's Nigeria National Office, it was revealed that candidates from 22,229 schools across the country have registered for the examination. The registration figures show a notable increase compared to last year, with 902,328 male candidates and 912,016 female candidates registered for this year's edition.
Dr. Dangut emphasized that, in compliance with the Federal Government's directive, the National Identification Number (NIN) has been incorporated as a requirement in the registration process. Additionally, he mentioned that enhanced security measures have been implemented, particularly in areas prone to security challenges, with WAEC collaborating with the police and state governments to ensure tight security during the exams.
Candidates and school authorities have been cautioned against engaging in examination malpractice, as Dr. Dangut stated that those found culpable, including candidates, supervisors, and schools, will face appropriate sanctions. To curb malpractice, WAEC has conducted extensive awareness campaigns nationwide and organized seminars for school proprietors, principals, students, and other stakeholders to educate them about the serious consequences of examination malpractice.
Dr. Dangut also disclosed that the results of the examination will be released within 45 days after the conclusion of the last paper. Furthermore, certificates will be printed and issued to schools in less than 90 days after the release of results. Candidates will also have access to digital copies of their certificates through the Digital Certificate platform.
