Today marks the commencement of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, with a staggering 1.8 million candidates slated to participate.
The examination, set to conclude on Monday, June 24, is witnessing participation from students representing 22,229 schools across the region.
Dr. Josiah Dangut, the Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, revealed that this year’s edition has seen a significant rise in candidate numbers compared to previous years.
A breakdown of the figures shows that 902,328 male candidates and 912,016 female candidates have registered for the examination.
In compliance with the Federal Government’s directive, the National Identification Number (NIN) has been integrated into the registration process. Dr. Dangut also assured that robust security measures have been implemented, particularly in volatile areas, with close coordination between WAEC, law enforcement agencies, and state governments.
Emphasising a zero-tolerance policy towards examination malpractice, Dr. Dangut warned candidates and school authorities of strict sanctions for any infractions. To combat this menace, WAEC has conducted nationwide awareness campaigns and organised seminars targeting school proprietors, principals, students, and other stakeholders.
Regarding result timelines, Dr. Dangut announced that results would be released 45 days after the conclusion of the last paper. Furthermore, certificates will be printed and distributed to schools within 90 days of result publication. Notably, digital copies of candidates’ certificates will also be made available on the Digital Certificate platform alongside the release of results.
As the WASSCE kicks off, WAEC remains committed to upholding the integrity of the examination process and ensuring fair outcomes for all candidates.