WAEC outlines procedures for dealing with exams withheld results
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has outlined the procedures for dealing with withheld results of the Basic Education Certificate Examination and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates.
Explaining the procedures for dealing with the withheld results of candidates who partook in any of its international and national examinations, the Examinations body in a blog post sighted by Pretertiary.com said;
1. The Council writes to all Heads of Schools affected by these actions after which it carries out a proper scrutiny of the scripts of these candidates
2. After the scrutiny of scripts, officers meet with the candidates who are given a fair hearing on the exact circumstances that led to the alleged malpractice in respect of which the affected candidates had been invited.
3. The candidates are then invited to write statements in response to the allegations against them. They are neither coerced nor intimidated into writing the statements as is being alleged by some of the parents.
In respect of the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2024, WAEC says it has concluded scrutiny of the scripts of the affected candidates and invited them, accompanied by their parents or guardians, to meet officials of the Council to be given an opportunity for a fair hearing.
“During the hearings, the affected candidates are required to respond to the allegations of their involvement in examination malpractice.
Based on the findings of these hearings, the Council will announce a final decision on the status of the results of the affected candidates,” the not-for-profit-making organization said in the blog post on its official website.
WAEC added “We wish to bring to the notice of parents, guardians and indeed all stakeholders that the Council works within a body of rules. The Council does not take decisions arbitrarily. There are relevant committees that look into the merits of the matters raised and advise accordingly
The Council wishes to report that some affected candidates of schools who were alleged to have engaged in examination malpractice (ie collusion) during the WASSCE (SC), 2024 took the issue to court
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) filed its response to the court as appropriate. Subsequently, the court ruled that the results of the affected candidates of these schools should be released.
To ensure fairness to all other affected candidates, the Council has filed a stay of execution pending appeal. The stay of execution is fixed to be heard on 20th February 2025”
The Council further indicated that has continued its hearings for other affected candidates and has been releasing results as appropriate adding that all the cases of malpractice being investigated will be finalized and all results released by 28th February 2025.
“The Council also wishes to assure its numerous publics that it is working assiduously to ensure that no candidate is cheated or unduly disadvantaged,” WAEC stated.
