Over 4,000 candidates absenteeism in 2024 WASSCE raises concern
Despite the successful conduct of the 2024 edition of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School, the high number of candidates absenteeism in the examination has raised concerns.
According to the West African Examinations Council, 4,609 candidates who registered for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School did not show up to sit for the examination.
The over 4,000 candidates who absented themselves during the conduct of the 2024 edition of the WASSCE for School represent about 1% of the total number of second-cycle school students who registered for the examination.
An official of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) who spoke to a newspaper said the prospective WASSCE candidates who boycotted the 2024 School examination did not provide any reasons for their absence.
As the reason for their 4,609 candidates’ absence is unclear, it is believed that some of the candidates may have been discouraged by the strict measures put in place by WAEC to prevent examination malpractices.
The figure was disclosed after the not-for-profit organization released the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for School results of students who participated in the exams on Monday, December 30, 2024.
In a press statement sighted by Pretertiary.com, WAEC said the provisional 2024 WASSCE for School Candidates results have been hosted on its official website, https://waecgh.org, for candidates to check their results.
The management of the not-for-profit organization (WAEC) further indicated that it will provide school heads with logins to access the candidates’ West African Senior School Certificate Examination results.
“The Council would like to caution stakeholders to be wary of fraudsters who promise to upgrade results for a fee. Candidates are to note that WAEC results are secured and can be authenticated using its results verification system. The WAEC QR code can be downloaded and used to verify results,” WAEC said in the statement.
WAEC said it has cancelled the subject results of 4,108 candidates for bringing foreign materials like prepared notes, textbooks, and printed material into the examination halls.
Again the management of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) also indicated that the entire results of 483 candidates have also been cancelled for possession of mobile phones in the examination halls,
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) further said it has withheld the subject results of 781 and the Entire Results of 209 candidates for various suspected offences.
A total number of 460,611 candidates made up of 212,954 males and 247,657 females from 1003 second cycle schools across the country sat for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School.
The entry figure of students who participated in this year’s WASSCE for School is 2.66% higher than the 2023 entry figure of 448,674. A total number of 4,609 {1.0%) were absent from the examination.
“Yet still, some subject results of candidates from 319 schools have been withheld for alleged collusion. These cases are still under investigation.
The withheld results of these candidates may be released or cancelled depending on the outcome of investigations,” the West African Examinations Council said in the statement signed by its Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi.
A total of 317,701 candidates obtained grades A1-C6 in English Language, while 305,132 candidates achieved the same grades in Mathematics (Core).
