This is to inform the general public about WAEC Press Release at the 70th NEC Meeting. From Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th December 2020, the 70th meeting of the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) was held at WAEC Testing and Training Centre (WTTC), Ogba – Lagos.
As the highest decision0making organ of WAEC on examination-related matters in Nigeria, the Committee holds meetings twice a year to consider matters that relate to the conduct of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates and Private Candidates. The Chief Government Nominee on Council and Director of Basic and Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja is the statutory chairman of the body.
The committee members comprise four representatives each of the State Ministries of Education and the Department of Education of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, ANCOPSS, and the universities. The registrar to Council, Head of the Nigeria National Office, Head of the Test Development Division (TDD), and the Head of the Test Administrative Division (TAD) of the Council are also included.
The Committee received reports during the 70th meeting on irregularities, Special and Clemency Cases arising from the conduct of WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2019-Second Series and WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2020-First Series. A report on the conduct of WASSCE for School Candidates, 2020 was also considered by the Committee and also irregularity cases that arise from the conduct of the examination.
The committee after diligent deliberations in the course of considering the various reported cases of malpractice approved appropriate sanctions in all established cases of malpractice as stipulated by the Rules and Regulations governing the conduct of the Council’s examinations.
The committee approved that candidates who are involved in proven cases that attracted Cancellation of Entire Results (CER) would have their entire results canceled. Also, it was approved that subjects results of those involved in proven cases which attracted Cancellation of Subject Results (CSR) will also be similarly canceled.
Some candidates will also suffer other sanctions in addition to the above such as barring them from sitting for the council’s examination for a certain number of years. For a specific number of years, some schools will be derecognized or their recognition will completely be withdrawn. There will be a formal report of supervisors who are found wanting in discharging of their examination duties to their employers and they will be blacklisted. Invigilators who are found wanting will also be reported to the appropriate authorities for disciplinary actions.
There will be an immediate implementation of the committee’s decision without delay and the affected candidates and schools duly informed by the council. The results of candidates who were exonerated by the committee will however be released. Special Cases, Clemency Appeals from WASSCE for School Candidates, 2020, and Restitution Cases for various years were also considered by the committee.
A report on the statistics of Entries and Results for WASSCE private candidates, 2019-Second Series and WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2020-First Series was also received by the committee. The committee in addition also received and considered the General Resume of the Chief Examiners on WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2020-First Series, and WASSCE for School Candidates, 2020.
Reports on the Activities of the Aptitude Test Department (ATD) was also received and considered for the period of March to October 2020 and the Activities of the Research Department of the Council for the period of March to October 2020.
The committee noted the observations by the Chief Examiners that the standard of the papers compared favorably with those of the previous years and that the questions were within the scope of the id of Syllabuses as well as the abilities of the candidates with regard to the General Resume of the Chief Examiners Reports on WASSCE for School Candidates, 2020.
As reported by them, the rubrics were devoid of ambiguity, the marking schemes were comprehensive, accommodating possible candidates’ responses and the marks distributions were equitably done.
The strength and weaknesses of the candidates were noted by the committee as reported by the Chief Examiners and the suggested remedies for the weaknesses. The council was commended for braving all odds to conduct the exam successfully and release the results of WASSCE for School Candidates, 2020 amidst the deadly pandemic.
The decline in examination malpractice in examination was also noted and WAEC was called to sustain the momentum in its fight against the menace. The Federal and State Ministries of Education were also urged to assist the Council in that regard through the monitoring and inspection of examination centers in their domain during the conduct of WASSCE.
It was noted by the committee with admiration the benefits of the Chief Examiners Report and an appeal was made to the Directors in the various State Ministries of Education, the All Confederation of Nigeria Principals of Secondary Schools, and all relevant stakeholders to continue in sensitizing their teachers on the efficacy of the Reports in the improvement of teaching and learning in schools.
The committee also commended President Buhari’s Administration for giving approval to the establishment of the National Secondary Schools Commission in 2019 to oversee the operations of secondary schools in Nigeria and asked that all hands be put on the desk to make sure that there is a successful take-off of the Commission which it sees as a veritable tool in the fight against examination malpractice.