The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has withheld the results of 262,803 candidates who participated in the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The ”Indebted in WAEC Result 2023” decision comes due to various instances of examination malpractice and irregularities. The withheld results account for approximately 16.3% of the total 1,613,733 candidates who took the exam.
Reasons Behind Withheld Results
The withheld results are primarily linked to candidates involved in examination malpractice and other fraudulent activities. The Council has identified these cases and taken action accordingly to maintain the integrity of the examination process.
Impact of ‘Expo’ and Unpaid Fees: There is growing concern over candidates’ reliance on ‘expo,’ which refers to cheating or obtaining answers through illegitimate means, rather than preparing adequately for their examinations.
Furthermore, the results of candidates in 13 states were not released due to the failure of the respective state governments to pay the registration fees to WAEC. The examination body is owed approximately N4 billion by these states.
Release of Partial Results
On August 8, 2023, WAEC released the results for the majority of candidates who participated in the 2023 WASSCE.
Out of the total candidates, the results of 1,476,565 (91.1%) have been processed and made available. However, the results of 137,168 candidates (8.5%) are still under processing.
Charles Eguridu, the head of WAEC’s national office, emphasized that WAEC is not a charity organization and depends on the fees paid by schools and candidates to conduct examinations. He explained that WAEC employs teachers to develop and mark the exam papers, and these teachers require payment for their services.
Also, the costs associated with supervising exams, fieldwork, and secure printing of the exam papers contribute to the overall expenses.
Resolution and Release of WAEC Withheld Results 2023
In response to the unpaid fees issue, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) assured WAEC that the indebted states would settle their bills.
In light of this assurance and to ensure the educational progress of the affected candidates, WAEC has decided to release the results of candidates from the indebted states.
This decision reflects the Council’s commitment to not hinder the educational advancement of Nigerian students.
Indebted in WAEC Result 2023
A total of about 1.5 million candidates participated in the 2023 WASSCE. The withholding of results due to malpractice and unpaid fees highlights the challenges faced by educational institutions in maintaining the integrity of examinations and ensuring proper financial support for their operations.