The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has made good its threat to withhold results of candidates from state governments who are still owing the council.
The examination body released the May/June 2015 WASSCE results Monday, but withheld the results of candidates for the examination in 13 states stressing that these states were still owing the body.
Head of WAEC’s Nigerian Office, Mr Charles Eguridu, did not list the debtor states as he explained that he did not want politicians to hijack the situation in these states and use them for their personal goals and desires.
Eguridu had accused 19 states of owing the council, but on Monday, he said six states among the 19 have paid their debt with 13 states still left.
Recalling how he had earlier alerted Nigerians about the indebtedness of many of the states and threatened to withhold results of government-sponsored candidates from those states, he explained that “after my pronouncement, a few of the debtor states responded by paying their debts fully or partially; while a few others made promises, indicating their willingness to pay as soon as they are able to do so.
“Others have not made any efforts in addressing the matter.
“After reviewing the situation, the Council has decided that the results of government-sponsored candidates of indebted states would be released if such states endeavour to produce bank guarantees, so that the council will be assured that the fees will be paid.
“This decision is in appreciation of the general prevailing economic challenges in the country, and in order not to jeopardize the educational careers of the candidates of the indebted states.”
Continuing with the release of the results for the states that have paid and for other candidates, Eguridu said: “out of 1,593,442 candidates who sat for the examinations, only 616,370 candidates, representing 38.68 percent obtained credits in five subjects and above including English Language and Mathematics.”
He said this was an improvement compared to 2013 when a total candidates who obtained five credits in English and Mathematics were 639,760 representing 38.30 per cent and in 2014 when 529,425 representing 31.28 percent obtained five credits in English and Mathematics.
He also disclosed that 109 blind candidates registered for and wrote the examination adding that 20 of these special candidates representing 18.34 percent obtained credit in 5 subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
“A total of 1,605,248 candidates registered for the May/June 2015 WASSCE, out of which 1,593,442 candidates, consisting of 864,096 male and 729,346 female candidates sat the examination.
“Out of the total number of candidates who sat the examination, 1,498,069 candidates, representing 94.01 percent have their results fully released, while 95,373 candidates, representing 5.99 percent 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.
“Such errors are being corrected by the Council to enable the affected candidates get their results fully processed and released subsequently.
“Of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, 758,849 candidates, representing 47.62 percent obtained six credits and above; 949,862 candidates representing 59.61 percent obtained five credits and above, while 1,114,988 candidates, representing 69.97 percent obtained credit and above in four subjects.
“In addition, 1,295,915 candidates, representing 78.81 percent obtained credit and above in three subjects, while 1,376,743 candidates representing 86.40 percent obtained credit and above in two subjects.
“However, a total of 616,370 candidates, representing 38.68 percent, obtained credit in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.
“Candidates who sat the May/June 2015 WASSCE will be able to check the details of their performance on the Council’s results website: www.waecdirect.org within the next 24 hours.
He promised that the report of the investigation would be presented to the Nigerian Examinations Committee (NEC) of the Council in due course for consideration.