616,370 of 1,593,442 get credit passes
in five subjects
MORE than half of the candidates who sat for the May/June 2015 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) cannot advance to higher institutions.
Reason: They failed English and Mathematics. The two core subjects are compulsory for admission into tertiary institutions, especially the university.
The council released the results yesterday. But, candidates in some 13 states have their results withheld because their states are yet to pay the fees.
Only 616,370 of the 1,593,442 (38.68 per cent) of the candidates got credit passes in at least five subjects, including English language and Mathematics.
The percentage, according to WAEC Head of National Office Mr. Charles Eguridu, is a slight improvement on last year’s examination, which recorded 529,425 (representing 31.28 per cent) and 639,760 (38.30) in 2013.
Announcing the results at WAEC’s office in Yaba, Lagos Mainland, Eguridu said: “Out of the 1,605,248 candidates that registered for the examination, with 1,593,442 candidates who sat for the examination,616,370 candidates representing 38.68 per cent obtained credit in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
”The results of 118,101 candidates, representing 7.41 per cent, are being withheld in connection with various cases of examination malpractice as the cases are being investigated and the reports of the investigations will be presented to the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC).
”Out of all the candidates who sat for the exams, 758,849 candidates, representing 47.62 per cent, obtained six credits and above; 949,862 candidates representing 59.61 per cent obtained five credits and above, while 1,114,988 candidates (representing 69.97 per cent) obtained credits and above in four subjects. In addition, 1,292,915 candidates, representing 78.81 per cent obtained credit and above in three subjects, while 1,376,743 candidates, representing 86.40 per cent obtained credit and above in two subjects.”
Eguridu said that of the 109 visually impared candidates, who registered for the examination, 20 of them (representing 18.34 per cent) obtained credits in five subjects, including English language and Mathematics.
In a further breakdown, Eguridu said 864,096 male and 729, 346 females registered for the examination as candidates.
He said: “Of the total number of candidates that sat for the examination, 1,498,069 candidates, representing 94.01 per cent, have their results fully released while 95,373 candidates, representing 5.99 per cent, have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors, mainly traceable to the candidates and schools in the course of registration or writing the examination.”
According to him, the errors were being corrected by the Council to enable the affected candidates get their results fully processed and released subsequently.
He said the Council has decided be hard on states that eventually defaulted in paying WAEC fees after the expiration of its two-week deadline.
Eguridu: “Due to challenges facing the council, which l alerted the nation to on the indebtedness to the council by some state governors, candidates in 13 states whose governors have not paid the Council will not be able to access their results until the states affected produce advance payment guarantees from reputable banks, so that the Council will be assured that the fees will be paid.”
Although, he refused to name the debtor-states, Eguridu said the issue had been brought to the attention of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), noting that payments were still being made by some states. It will, therefore, be premature to name the states, he said.
Eguridu said the examination was also conducted in Benin Republic and Cote d’lvoire due to “wishes of parents of Nigerian origin who are not satisfied with the education of their wards there and want them to come to Nigerian higher institutions. WAEC is also open to other nationals who wish to patronise it.”
There were cases of Nigerians colluding with their wards and schools to engage in examination malpractices. Such cases have been recorded and such results withheld, Eguridu said.
SOURCE:thenationonlineng.net
