THE West African Examinations Council (WAEC) released the results of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates on Tuesday with the Head of Nigeria National Office, Mr. Olu Adenipekun, saying 49.8 per cent recorded credits in five subjects, including English and Mathematics.
The performance of the 1,572,396 candidates from 17,886 schools was lower compared to that of 2017 which was 59.22 per cent and 2016, 52.97 per cent.
Also, more females (396,361) hit the benchmark than males (389,655).
However, Olanipekun said the performance could not necessarily be described as a decline as some candidates might have got relevant credits from other examinations. He said the performance was “fluctuating”.
Of the total number of candidates that sat for the examination, 824,424 were males and 748,972 were females.
A total of 854,424 candidates (54.59 per cent) made credits in five subjects, including English, but not mathematics compared to 1,213,244, who made credits in five subjects with or without English and or Mathematics.
A total of 1,328 candidates with special needs took the examination.
Contrary to practice over the years, the HNO did not give the statistics of results withheld as a result of examination malpractice – though he said there were cases.
He, however, expressed hope that the council could reduce the menace using technology.
Olanipekun hailed the examining body’s workers for helping it achieve its promise to release the results 45 days after the conclusion of the examination.
“Permit me to use this opportunity to commend and thank the staff of council, whose sacrifice, dedication and commitment to duty contributed immensely to the success recorded during the conduct, marking, processing and the release of the results within the period of time the council promised its stakeholders,” he said.
Olanipekun said the results can be accessed from the council’s website, www. waecdirect.org.