Why Nigeria records mass failure in WAEC

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.