Victoria Mbangwa
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has made history by introducing a computer-based hybrid mode for the first time in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for Private Candidates, Second Series.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, announced the release of the results while highlighting the council’s latest innovation in examination administration.
“The West African Examinations Council, Nigeria, wishes to announce to candidates, stakeholders, and the general public that the results of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination for Private Candidates, 2024–Second Series, have been released,” the statement reads.
The exam was conducted in two modes traditional paper and pen, as well as a computer-based format marking a significant shift in WAEC’s approach to conducting large-scale assessments.
The introduction of computer-based testing aligns with global trends in digital education and aims to improve efficiency, security, and accessibility. WAEC’s decision to incorporate technology into its examination process signals a step toward modernizing assessments and reducing cases of malpractice.
Despite this progress, WAEC revealed that it withheld the results of 2,577 candidates—representing 3.96% of the total candidates—due to allegations of examination malpractice. Affected candidates have been advised to visit the WAEC Notice of Examination Malpractice Portal to present their cases for review.
A total of 68,342 candidates registered for the exam, though only 65,023 eventually sat for it across 5,067 centers nationwide. The council also ensured that 157 candidates with special needs, including visually and hearing-impaired candidates, received necessary accommodations during the exam.
In terms of performance, 62,354 candidates (95.90%) had their results fully processed and released, while 2,669 (4.10%) experienced delays due to errors traceable to them. WAEC assured that efforts were ongoing to finalize the processing of these results.
An encouraging improvement was recorded in the overall pass rate. According to WAEC, 34,878 candidates (53.64%) obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics—a 9.35% increase compared to 2022 and 2023.
“The results are a testament to their dedication and hard work. We wish all the candidates the best in their future endeavours,” he added.
WAEC expressed appreciation to government agencies, security personnel, supervisors, invigilators, and examiners who contributed to the successful administration of the exam. The council reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the credibility of its assessments while exploring further innovations to enhance the examination process.
