The Nigeria office of the West African Examination Council says it has concluded plans to commence the conduct of an additional diet of West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidate come January, 2018.
The council said the decision was reached based on growing concern among stakeholders over what they perceive as discrimination or denial of equal opportunity against private candidates.
Iyi Uwadiae, Registra to council WAEC assured stakeholders that Nigeria National office has indicated the willingness and readiness to blaze the trail by making the examination available to Nigerians in 2018.
Uwadiae in an interactive session with Journalists in Lagos yesterday disclosed after painstakingly considering all ramification of the matter, the council has finally given approval for the national offices to commence the conduct of one additional diet each year of WASSCE for private candidates.
He said though council has given the nod, the conduct of the additional diet may not take off in all the member countries immediately or at the same time.
According to him, “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 private candidates who desire another attempt at WASSCE.
He said further said this situation is often cited as being responsible for the malpractice at the private candidates examination centres.
“WAEC conducts in the five member countries its international examinations-the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) which is conducted twice a year, in May/ June for school candidates and in November/ December for private candidates”.
“It also conducts various national examinations in the member countries excerpt Nigeria due to the fact that WASSCE for school comes up first each year and the results are released ahead of the conduct of WASSCE for private candidates, the school candidates who wish to retake the examination usually have the opportunity of doing so with the private candidates examination”. He said.
On his part Olutise Adenipekun, Head of the Nigeria National Office of WAEC said this Nigeria is ready for the additional diet commencing in 2018 adding that the body has restrategised to ensure that the examination is successful like the other two examination
He disclosed that this would further avail candidates the opportunity to meet their academic aspiration.
KELECHI EWUZIE
