Victor Ezeja
RESULTS released on Monday by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for the 2021 May/June Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) revealed considerable improvement of candidates’ performances which rose to 87.1 percent, a 16.46 percent difference from the 2020 outcome of 65.24 percent in the category of those who obtained credit and above in any five subjects including English and Mathematics.
Intriguingly, the number of female candidates who obtained credits and above in a minimum of five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics was slightly more than males – 644,646 representing 50.57% were females – while 630,138 which is 49.43% were males.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to a statement by Patrick Areghan, Head of Nigeria National Office of WAEC, a total of one million, five hundred and seventy-three thousand, eight hundred and forty-nine (1,573,849) candidates registered and one million, five hundred and sixty thousand, two hundred and sixty one (1,560,261) candidates sat for the examination.
Out of the number that took the examination, one million, two hundred and seventy four thousand, seven hundred and eighty four (1,274,784) candidates, representing 81.7%, obtained credits and above in a minimum of five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
Areghan disclosed that 80.56 per cent of the results had been fully processed while 19.44 per cent of the results was still being processed due to issues beyond the control of the WAEC, adding that the Council was working on resolving the issues to enable the candidates get their full results within the next one week.
He further disclosed that the results of one hundred and seventy thousand, one hundred and forty six (170,146) candidates, representing 10.9% of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld over reported cases of examination malpractices.
The WAEC Council Head in Nigeria expressed worry over an ugly development in which some bloggers upload examination questions on websites and social media platforms before and immediately after examination on a particular subject commences.
He also stated that there are increasing cases of mobile phone use in cheating during examinations even with ban on its use inside examination halls.
He also disclosed that there is organised cheating in some schools, adding that all the cases are being investigated.
“Of great worry here is the activities of rogue-website operators and some other social media platforms, who post examination questions online immediately after the commencement of the paper being administered.
“The increasing use of cell phones in the examination hall, in spite of the existing ban, and organized cheating in some schools, are other big concerns.
“All the cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for determination in due course. The Committee’s decisions will be communicated to the affected candidates through their various schools,” Areghan stated.
Areghan further announced that the results have been uploaded in the examination council’s web portal and advised candidates to go and check their results with the required result checker PIN.
“The Result Checker PIN and Serial Number required by candidates to check their results online are contained on the Candidate’s Smart Identity Card used during the conduct of the examination.
“Certificates of candidates whose results have been fully processed and released will be ready within the next 90 days, counting from today,” Areghan disclosed
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
