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Tag: Olu Adenipekun

  • WAEC: we won’t re-issue certificates

    Owners of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificates have been advised to guard them well. The body said on Sunday it will not re-issue on account of misplacement, fire, flood or theft.

    The council’s Head of National Office, Mr. Olu Adenipekun, said the advice became necessary as lots of people have been approaching the council at various times for a re-issue of the lost certificates.

    He said: “Let me make it clear that in the real sense of it, our certificates are issued only once, irrespective of who is involved or the circumstance that led to the misplacement, and that remains the truth of the matter.

    “We do not issue our West African Senior School Certificates Examination (WASSCE) twice.

    “But, if we have such cases of theft, fire, flood and others, as it concerns these certificates, yes, in reaction to our operational environment, we can consider the issuance of an ‘attestation certificate.

    “About five years ago, the council, that is, the highest governing body met and took a decision on this, stressing that there is no test body that issues two of its certificates to a single candidate in one examination.

    “But, if a candidate should experience such losses through fire, flood or theft and can provide all the necessary proofs required to that effect, that will show such things actually happened to his or her certificate, there are certain steps such candidates are expected to take before approaching the council for further action.”

    The WAEC chief explained that after all such processes had been satisfactorily concluded then, the council would consider the issuance of “Attestation Certificate”.

    Read Also: School gardener beats WAEC candidate to death

    “It is this certificate that we give out, and not re-issuance of another certificate. This is what we have been doing for the past five years now.

    “We have many Nigerians who have benefitted from this, because it is like a replacement of the real certificate. These people who have benefitted from this come from all the stratum of the society,” Adenipekun said.

    According to him, in an effort to reduce the incidence of certificates loss and protection, the council in Nigeria, four years ago introduced what it called certificate cover.

    He explained that one of the ways candidates or perons get their certificates destroyed was majorly in an attempt to laminate them.

    “It has been discovered that quite a large number of people rush off to business centres immediately after collecting their WASSCE certificates, and in an attempt to get them laminated, they are destroyed in the process.”

    Adenipekun said that the council’s non-sticky certificate covers were unique and protective, even if when submerged in water.

    He added that these were parts of the innovations the council introduced over the years in an attempt to serve the public well.

  • Three Cross River secondary schools receive $5, 000 prize from WAEC

    Three secondary schools in Cross River State on Thursday received the Endowment Book Fund Prize worth $5, 000 from the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for emerging the best at the 2017 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    The schools were Assurance Community Secondary School, Obubra, who came first; Hillcrest College, Calabar, the runner up; and Federal Science College Ogoja that came third.

    Also the three best candidates in the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2017, in Nigeria were honoured with the National Distinction Awards accompanied with cash prizes.

    They were Miss Isabelle Irabor (1st), Miss Favour Etuonuma (2nd) and Miss Adenike Adedara (3rd)

    Chairman of the Nigeria National Committee (NNC) of the West African Examination Council, Dr (Mrs) Lami Amodu at the formal opening of the 56th Annual General meeting of the Committee in Calabar yesterday said the awards were not based on academic excellence alone as the winners were also found not have been involved in any form of examination malpractice duding the examination.

    Also, 14 members of staff of the Council in Nigeria, who have served meritoriously for 20 years without blemish, received Long Service Awards.

    Read Also: WASSCE: 39, 557 obtain five credits in English, Maths

    Amodu said the awards were the Council’s way of expressing appreciation and gratitude to dedicated staff, who contributed to the Council’s success and growth, without compromising their integrity.

    She said the Nigeria National Committee is the highest policy-making organ of the Council in Nigeria.

    Amodu disclosed that the Council has deployed a new technological solution called Item Differential Profile to tackle the menace of examination malpractice.

    “Nigeria National Office in particular has taken Information and Communications Technology to improve its service delivery. These, among others, include the online registration of candidates for both WASSCE for School Candidates and private candidates. This development has enabled the Council in Nigeria to achieve 100 per cent migration from paper based to electronic based enrolment of candidates for its examinations. The deployment of Quick Response Code on our certificates, thereby making it impossible to falsify certificates issued by the Council,” Amodu said.

    Head of the Nigeria National Office of WAEC, Mr Olu Adenipekun, appreciated the support and cooperation received form the government and people of the state in hosting the meeting.

  • WASSCE: 49.8 percent pass with five credits

    Fourty nine per cent of candidates who wrote the West African Senior School Certificate Examination ( WASSCE ) last year recorded credits in five subjects, including English and Mathematics.

    The Head ofNigeria National Office of West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Mr Olu Adenipekun disclosed this on Wednesday.

    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, while 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.

    Read Also: WASSCE papers didn’t leak, says WAEC

    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 with the Council could reduce the menace using technology.

    Olanipekun praised the workers of the examining body 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 it’s stakeholders,” he said.

    Olanipekun said the results can be accessed from the Council’s website, www.waecdirect.org.

  • WAEC withholds 1,021 results from 1st diet of 2018 WASSCE

    The West African Examinations Council ( WAEC ) on Tuesday announced the release of its January/February series of the 2018 West African Senior School Certificate Examination ( WASSCE ).

    Mr Olu Adenipekun, the council’s Head of National Office ( HNO ), who announced the release in Lagos, said results of 1,021 candidates were, however, withheld.

    The approval to introduce and conduct the additional diet in the country and other national offices of the five-member countries was given at the council’s 65th annual general meeting in March 2017.

    The introduction of the series for Private candidates, brings to the three, the number of examinations conducted by the council each year.

    According to Adenipekun, the WAEC results were withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice by the affected candidates.

    He said the cases were being investigated and that reports of the investigations would be presented to the appropriate committee of the council in due course, for consideration.

    “The committee’s decisions will be communicated to the affected candidates,’’ Adenipekun said.

    According to him, 11,721 candidates registered for the examination, while 11,307 actually sat for the test.

    Giving a breakdown of statistics of candidates’ performance at the examination, the HNO said that 8,113 candidates obtained credits and above in two subjects.

    He noted that 6,375 others obtained credits and above in three subjects, while 4,762 candidates obtained credits and above in four subjects.

    Adenipekun also said that 3,263 candidates obtained credits and above in five subjects, while 2,010 others obtained credits and above in six subjects.

    “A total 1,937 candidates, representing 17.13 per cent, obtained the minimum of credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

    “The percentage of candidates in this category in the WASSCE in 2017 was 26.01 per cent.

    “From the statistics of performance, it is safe to say that candidates performance is not satisfactory, compared to what obtained in the same diet for private candidates in 2016 and 2017.

    “We, therefore, wish to plead with candidates to take this examination seriously,’’ he said.

    The HNO, however, expressed satisfaction at the response of Nigerians to the newly-introduced diet.

    He added that it was encouraging and would propel the council to expand to more cities and towns.

    Adenipekun said the introduction of the diet would also stem the tendency by some candidates to get involved in examination malpractice.

    He explained that the additional diet for private candidates was part of council’s contributions to the efforts of governments at all levels to expand the educational opportunities in the West African sub-region.

    Adenipekun urged candidates who sat for the examination to check the details of their performance on the council’s results website.

    NAN

  • WAEC to re-introduce e-marking for tests

    WAEC to re-introduce e-marking for tests

    In an effort to broaden its scope, the West African Examinations Council ( WAEC ) International Office (WIO) in Lagos, says it was set to re-introduce electronic marking for its tests.

    The Head of the Office, Mr Adelowo Maliki, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

    According to him, the marking before now was done with some foreign partners based in the United Kingdom.

    “We started this electronic marking in 2014 through to 2015, only for us to suspend it in 2016, due to high costs as regards the high exchange rate.

    “But now, we are set to bring it back as we have gotten all necessary approvals from the council’s committee meetings and the council itself.

    “This led to our trying to develop our own in-house and by the grace of God, the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination ( WASSCE ) for private candidates would be marked electronically.

    “However, we will not be marking all the subjects through this mode, just some selected ones.

    “So as soon as this examination is concluded, we will kick start marking electronically,’’ he said.

    According to him, such mode of marking would further ensure test realiability.

    “Here, you can be sure that if two people mark the same paper, they will arrive at the same scoring.

    “So it will increase test reliability, which means that even for different people, there will be little or no deviation from what they awarded because this one is electronically done and if you are not doing it according to laid down rules, it shuts you off automatically on its own.

    “At that point, you realise you are not doing the right thing and so if every paper can be done electronically, it is going to be the best,’’ Maliki explained.

    He added that the marking mode was actually the best but costly.

    Maliki, however, noted that gradually, the office intends to spread the marking mode across all subjects and papers.

    “When we do some papers and discover we are able to absorb the costs, we will increase and with time, maybe as we are doing it and getting results, government may also want to invest in and be part of it,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the county’s Head, National Office of WAEC, Mr Olu Adenipekun, had, at a news conference in Lagos, announced that the council would commence the conduct of the WASSCE for private candidates twice a year, with effect from 2018.

  • WASSCE: WAEC warns candidates against patronising fraudsters

    WASSCE: WAEC warns candidates against patronising fraudsters

    The West African Examinations Council on Wednesday warned candidates against patronising fraudsters in the ongoing 2017 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    Mr. Damian Ojijeogu, the Head, Public Affairs of the council, said in a statement in Lagos that schools and parents should also warn candidates against patronising cyber criminals, who are out to swindle them.

    According to Ojijeogu, the attention of the council has been drawn to the activities of some fraudulent individuals who are out to extort money from gullible candidates participating in the ongoing WASSCE.

    “These fraudsters try to distract the candidates by posting on the internet cloned/photo shopped images of supposedly WASSCE question papers and answers.

    “We wish to advise candidates to remain focused and shun any form of distraction in order not to ruin their future by participating in the fraud.

    “The council has deployed software that can detect any form of cheating, even in objective tests.

    “In this regard, therefore, we advise candidates to study hard for their examination, as that is the only honourable way to success,’’ he said.

    Ojijeogu also warned parents to discourage their children from patronising fraudsters, but rather encourage them to stay focused and strive for success.

    “We also strongly appeal to school principals, supervisors and invigilators to help the council to enforce the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of the examination.

    “This is especially by preventing candidates from bringing foreign materials such as cribs, cell phones and other electronic devices into the examination hall.

    “The penalty for a defaulter could be as stiff as the cancellation of candidate’s entire results.’’

    Meanwhile, the Head of National Office (HNO) of WAEC, Mr. Olu Adenipekun, told NAN that the council would continue to strive hard to protect the integrity of its examinations.

    He said no amount of blackmail by fraudsters would make the council compromise the pedigree of its examinations.

    “So far, I am happy with the conduct of the ongoing examination nationwide.

    “Everything has been going on fine as intended, and our supervisors, council members and examiners are all fully on ground to see to the success of the examination.

    “As expected, there have been some cases of malpractice like impersonation among others that have been reported.

    “We want to assure that the culprits will not go unpunished when we conclude investigations on the cases.

    “No amount of malpractice at the ongoing examination will go without being detected.

    “And that is why we are calling on the candidates, their parents and schools to shun activities of fraudsters.

    “The fraudsters are only out to destroy the future of the ones that will fall victims of their game plans,’’ Adenipekun said.

     

  • WAEC plans to release results 60 days after exam

    WAEC plans to release results 60 days after exam

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it plans to reduce the waiting days for the release of its West African Senior School Certificates Examination (WASSCE) results to 60 days.

    The Head of National Office (HNO), WAEC in Nigeria, Mr. Olu Adenipekun, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the waiting days will now be 60 days as against 90 days previously.

    Adenipekun spoke with NAN on the side-line of the council’s 65th anniversary celebration which began on Thursday in Lagos.

    According to him, the development is one of such steps being taken by the council to meet its mandates of delivering quality service to all stakeholders.

    “All hands must be on deck to ensure that the innovation, tagged: `Project 60’, is effective from this year.

    “For sometimes now, we normally use about 90 days, from the day of the last paper of the examination to release the result.

    “For the past 15 months, when I assumed office as the HNO in Nigeria, we have been working to reduce that ‘waiting period’ by 50 per cent.

    “This is what initially brought about what we had also called `Project 45’ but we want to take it gradually,’’ Adenipekun said.

    He told NAN that for the 2017 May/June WASSCE, which is about to start, the intention of the board was to release the result within 60 to 65 days.

    “So, this is how we came about ‘Project 60’; and in the coming years, the council will talk about ‘Project 45’, he said.

    He added that council was hoping that in the next two years, it would be able to release results of its examinations within 45 days after the last paper is taken.

    On whether the development was tied to the JAMB’s insistence that candidates should make their WASSCE results available as prerequisite for admissions, the HNO said that it was not meant to address any issue.

    Adenipekun noted that one of the major objectives for introducing project 60 was to reposition the council and portray it as an organisation that was delivering its mandate.

    According to him, WAEC should also be seen as being always ready to review its operations and delivery time.

    “This may also come as good news for our current SSS 3 students, who are about to write the 2017 WASSCE.

    “Basically there is need for our SSS 3 students to be happy because they are our principal stakeholders.

    “I am sure reducing the waiting period will even make them happier,’’ he said.