By Gabriel Dike
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Thursday clarified that it does not withhold candidates’ results arbitrarily without cause.
In response to a mother who claimed that WAEC withheld her son’s November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result, causing him to slip into depression, the council categorically rejected the claim.
The statement, signed by the acting Public Affairs Officer of WAEC, Mrs. Moyosola Adesina, said the council’s attention was drawn to the mother’s outcry published in national dailies and clarified the facts surrounding the allegation.
“We have read the publication, with deep sense of concern, and as an organisation that takes pleasure in rendering quality service to the Nigerian child, we have decided not to remain silent over the incident. We categorically reject this claim and wish to clarify the facts,” she stated.
Adesina explained that the council does not withhold candidate(s) result(s) arbitrarily, adding, “when a report on acts of examination malpractice and other irregularities regarding the conduct of an examination is received by WAEC, the results of affected candidate(s) are withheld pending investigations.”
She said the affected candidates are notified of the allegations made against them and are advised to make their representations via the WAEC Notice of Examinations Malpractice portal.
Adesina noted: “The information about this portal is always contained in the press releases issued upon the release of results for every diet of examination as well as the council’s social media platforms. In addition, prior to every diet of examination, candidates and examination functionaries are informed through briefing session notes and registration materials.”
The public affairs officer described WAEC as a law-abiding organisation that follows due process in all its activities and that reported cases of examination malpractice are investigated in accordance with the rules and regulations for dealing with cases of irregularities in the council’s examinations, pursuant to the law.
She reiterated that as a world-class examining body with the aim of adding value to the educational goals of its stakeholders, the council would continue to use its best endeavours to improve the quality of assessment for the enhancement of quality education in Nigeria.
Daily Sun gathered the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) took a decision to cancel the result of the woman’s son and others for examination malpractice.
A source in WAEC told Daily Sun that the son and other candidates violated the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the exam and that the punishment is the cancellation of the results.
