Candidates Performance Decline in WAEC Examinations

In what has been described according to one official as discouraging, the just released November/December 2013 West African Senior School Certificate Examination result has got many talking about the huge decline in candidates performance in the examination.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) announced the release of the results Thursday in Lagos stating that 308,217 candidates registered for the examination, out of which 296,827, consisting of 163,659 male and 133,168 female, sat for the examination.

According to reports by Nigerian Bulletin, out of the total number of candidates that sat for the examination, 120,115 candidates (40.46%), obtained six credits and above; 161,721 (54.48%) obtained five credits and above. 98,832 (66.98 %) obtained credits and above in 4 subjects, while 230,325 (77.59%) obtained credits and above in three subjects. 256,500 candidates (86.41%) obtained credits and above in two subjects.

However, 86,612 candidates (29.17%), obtained credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

Head of the Nigeria National Office of WAEC, Mr. Charles Egurudu said a total of 8,433 other candidates have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors mainly traceable to them and cyber cafes in the course of registration or writing the examination.

According to PM.News in 2012, a total of 150,615 candidates representing 37.97 per cent obtained credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

Eguridu blamed the poor performance of candidates during major examinations on wrong values, lack of role models, poor incentives for teachers as well as lack of qualified teachers, among other challenges.