WAEC increases diet, to conduct 3 exams yearly

The West African Examinations Council ( WAEC) has disclosed plans to introduce an additional examination diet from 2018 for candidates intending to participate in its public examinations.

Currently, the council conducts one examination for Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) candidates who are still in schools and another one for private candidates who are no longer enrolled in formal public schools.

But at a press briefing in Lagos yesterday, the Registrar of the Council, Dr Iyi Uwadiae revealed that the examination council would be adding an additional diet for its private candidates and this might take off in Nigeria by next year.

The registrar said, “With growing concern among the stakeholders over what they perceive as discrimination or denial of equal opportunity against private candidates, there has been a wave of agitation, criticism and appeal across the sub-region for the Council to find a way of ameliorating the agony of long waiting experienced by the private candidates who desire another attempt at WASSCE. This situation is often cited as being responsible for the level of desperation sometimes exhibited by the perpetrators of malpractice at the private candidates examination centres.

“Council, after painstakingly considering all ramifications of the matter, has finally given approval for the National Offices to commence the conduct of one additional diet each year of WASSCE for private candidates. I must be quick to point out that though Council has given the nod, the conduct of the additional diet may not take off in all member countries immediately or at the same time.