The house of representatives has resolved to investigate the incessant leaking of Examinations questions conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC), leading to malpractice and cancellation of results by the examination board.
Adopting the motion moved by a member of the House, Benjamin Kalu, at the plenary on Wednesday, the lawmakers urged WAEC to “establish more rigorous standards for the administration, monitoring, supervision and evaluation of O’ Level examinations in Nigeria.”
The House also mandated its Committee on Basic Education and Services to “investigate the incessant leakages of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination questions as well as repeated and unconscionable cancellation of examinations by the West African Examinations Council in Nigeria.”
The committee is to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
Moving the motion titled ‘Need to Investigate Chronic Leakage of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination Questions and Incessant Cancellation by the West African Examinations Council in Nigeria,’ Kalu noted that WAEC is the body responsible for the administration, monitoring, supervision and evaluation of WASSCE in Nigeria.
READ ALSO: Reps pass bill to end degree, HND dichotomy | Poly & Uni Graduates are Now Equal
The lawmaker also noted that WASSCE is the foremost O’ Level examination in Nigeria, which is usually taken by over 1.5 million candidates every year.
He recalled that on September 15, 2021, in a notice issued by its Public Affairs Department, WAEC cancelled Physics 2 & 1 and Business Management 2 & 1 examinations, which were originally scheduled for September 15, 2021, citing leakage of some examination papers in social media as a reason for the cancellation.
Kalu also recalled that WAEC had at several times in the past cancelled examinations for similar reasons, including the cancellation of Literature in English papers taken by private candidates in 2021.
The lawmaker stated that “the reasons do not warrant cancellation of an examination of such magnitude and such repeated cancellations are indicative of ineptitude on the part of the examining body.”
He quoted the Head of WAEC National Office in Nigeria, Areghan Patrick, to have said that the examination body spends over N1.5bn annually to conduct WASSCE and was operating at a deficit of N7bn.
Kalu said, “The House is concerned that the cancellation and subsequent rescheduling of exams by WAEC results in wastage and incurs avoidable expenses to the country which is already burdened with debts.
“The House is also concerned that according to the Global Youth Development Index, Nigeria currently ranks 161st of 181 countries in youth education and employment.
“The House is worried that if urgent action is not taken to check the inefficiencies of WAEC, improve the security of O’ Level examinations and ultimately put an end to the incessant cancellation of exams, Nigeria’s education system will further deteriorate.”
READ ALSO:WAEC 2022: WAEC Extends Registration To Feb 25, Exams To Holds May/June
Stories You Shouldn't Have Missed:
- Rivers Varsity introduces free internet for students in second-class upper and first class
- Two Students Killed in Ondo Crash; Driver Arrested
- “I Read 7 Hours Daily” – Says University Overall Best Graduating Student
- UNILORIN expels final-year student who beat female lecturer to coma, gives him 48 days to appeal
- Brilliant Boy, Charles Taileatu Emerges As The Overall Best In NNPC Competition
- Beauty With Brains: Nigerian Lady Bags First Class, Shares Adorable Picture
- Why Nigerian Varsities No Longer Attract Foreign Students, Lecturers
Join Our 500,000+ Community:
Thank you so much for reading. We will appreciate it if you share this with your loved ones.