Why Nigeria records mass failure in WAEC
***Body identifies poor command of
English, spelling errors
Fresh facts emerged at the weekend as to
why many candidates, who sit for the West
African Senior School Certificate
Examinations, WASSCE, usually perform
poorly in the country.
It would be recalled that only 616,370
(38.68 per cent) from 1,593,442
candidates, who sat for this year’s May/
June edition of the examination,
conducted by West African Examinations
Council, WAEC, obtained credit passes and
above in five subjects, including English
language and mathematics.
English and mathematics are mandatory
subjects’ combination to secure admission
into tertiary institutions in and outside
the country.
It would also be recalled that the results
of previous exams, especially in the last
five years were no better.
Among the reasons for the persistent mass
failure, according to the examination
body, include the use of text messages
abbreviations, like “u” for you in writing,
especially in English language and poor
command of language as well as
indiscriminate lifting of portions of set
passages as answers.
This shocking revelation was an
observation of the Nigeria Examinations
Committee, NEC, of WAEC, which is the
highest decision making organ of the
council as contained in a communiqué,
issued at the end of its 60th meeting held
in Lagos last week.
The committee, through the General
Résumé of the Chief Examiners’ Reports,
according to the communiqué signed by the
Public Affairs Officer of the council, Mr.
Demianus Ojijeogu, also observed that
many candidates failed because of spelling
errors, misinterpretation of questions,
illegible handwriting and poor
interpretation of technical terms.
Similarly, the committee, which also
observed cases of malpractice during last
year’s November/ December and May/June
diets, endorsed appropriate sanctions in
all established cases of practice as
prescribed by the Rules and Regulations
governing the conduct of the council’s
examinations.
According to the communiqué, the
committee also approved cancellation of
entire or part of results of candidates
found culpable of malpractice as the case
may be.
Such candidates and their centres will also
be barred from writing or presenting
candidates for a certain number of years
to serve as deterrent to others.
The committee has equally blacklisted
indicted supervisors for their ignoble
roles, while erring teachers and principals
would be reported to their state ministries
of education and association respectively
for disciplinary action.
All these decisions, according to the
communiqué will be implemented
immediately.
