WAEC Provides Steps for Fast-Tracking Release of Withheld WASSCE Results Amidst Rising Tension

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has outlined steps that schools and candidates whose May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results are being withheld can take to expedite the release process.

This comes as 215,267 results—representing 11.92% of the 1,805,216 candidates who sat for the school-based exam—are currently being withheld due to alleged involvement in exam malpractice. The fate of these results is under investigation, causing anxiety among candidates and their families who are concerned about missing out on university admissions.

In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, WAEC’s spokesperson, Mrs. Moyosola Adesina, clarified that while the withholding of results is not unusual in cases of suspected malpractice, the council is committed to resolving these matters swiftly. She emphasized that WAEC does not delay investigations, understanding the importance of timely results for candidates' academic progression.

Adesina explained that the council uses a committee system to thoroughly review each case, releasing results as quickly as possible once any issues are resolved. She noted that some results might be released before the Nigeria Examination Committee (NEC) of WAEC meets in October, or even earlier.

"The waiting period for candidates who are affected won’t be long. We have over 200,000 cases to examine, and we must ensure that no one is unjustly punished," Adesina said.

To facilitate a faster resolution, WAEC has introduced an online portal where affected candidates or schools can submit complaints and evidence to prove their innocence. This initiative aims to provide fair hearing and expedite the release of results for those who are wrongly implicated.

Adesina highlighted that cases of exam malpractice are often detected not only in the exam halls but also during the marking of scripts, where patterns such as identical answers across multiple candidates raise red flags.

However, she reassured that if candidates or schools can convincingly prove their innocence through the portal, their results could be released before the NEC meeting. "It is NEC that ratifies the outcome of all the investigations and recommendations regarding whether seized results should be released or not," she added.

As tensions rise among students and parents, WAEC's efforts to streamline the resolution process and offer a platform for defense may provide some relief to those awaiting their results.