A total of 1,814,344 applicants from 22,229 schools will sit for the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), which begins today, April 30, and runs until June 24, 2024.
The almost eight-week examination will take place in four WAEC member countries: Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
Dr. Amos Dangut, Head of Nigeria National Office (HNO) of the council, briefed journalists in Lagos yesterday on the conduct of the WASSCE for school candidates.
He explained that out of the total of 1,814,344 candidates registered, 902,328 are males, accounting for 49.73 percent, and 912,016 are females, accounting for 50.27 percent.
This statistics, he noted, showed a further increase in the number of females and males respectively, compared to 2023.
“On the whole, the candidature for this year increased by 192,948”, he stated, adding that candidates would be examined in 76 subjects, made up of 197 papers.
“About 30,000 practicing senior secondary school teachers, nominated by various ministries of education, will supervise the examination,” the HNO stated.
He however expressed concern over the insecurity situation in the country, saying that this was affecting the conduct of its examinations and would require extra security arrangements.
He added that this can be done by liaising with the Inspector General of Police and State governments to provide adequate security and ensure that the examination is conducted nationally in a safe and secure environment.
“Conducting examinations has been challenging. Instances of insecurity exist in many places across the country, and conducting examinations in insecurity-prone areas would require extra security arrangements. We are likely to relocate the candidates from where the government considers as very high risk areas to relatively safer areas.
“The council appreciates the continued support received from the Nigeria Police as partners in actualising its goals during the conduct of its examinations,” he added.
Fielding questions from newsmen, the HNO explained that the council has reached agreements with indebted states for the outstanding amounts being owed , saying that such funds are needed for the conduct of the examination.
He called on parents and guardians to encourage their wards to study diligently and desist from engaging in any form of examination malpractice, saying that the council will deal decisively with candidates and examination functionaries who engage in such vices.
“The penalties for involvement in examination malpractice are meted out on erring candidates, supervisors and schools, etc, upon establishment of culpability by the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC), which is the highest decision-making organ of the council that sits on examination matters in Nigeria,” Dagut pointed out.