By Jennifer Ugwueke
The Nigeria National Office of West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), on Tuesday, announced Monday 16th of August 2021 for the commencement and conduct of the 2021 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.
The Head of the Nigeria office, Mr. Patrick Areghan made the announcement in Lagos at the Yaba office of the regional examination body.
Mr. Areghan stated, ‘” In accordance with the Final International Timetable, the WASCCE (SC) 2021 will take place throughout the sub-region from Monday, 16h August to Friday, 8h
October 2021.
“However, the examination will end in Nigeria on 30 September 2021- spanning a period of seven (0/) weeks.”
Speaking on statistics for the 2021 diet of the school-based examination, Areghan said, “Nineteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty Five (19,425) recognized secondary schools, comprising Right Thousand and Fifty-Two (8.052) public and Eleven Thousand Three Hundred and Seventy-Three (11,3/75) private schools, spread across the nooks and crannies of
the thirty-six (36) states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja would be presenting a total of One Million, Five Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Nine (1,573,789) candidates
comprising 792,620 males (50.367%) and 781,169 females (49.647). for the examination Candidates would be examined in 76 subjects, made up of 197 papers.”
Areghan disclosed that about 25,000 senior teachers would be participating in the examination 0s
supervisors.
He explained that the examination suffered postponement again till August against May/June due to COVID-19, saying the final new timetable was drawn to cater for the interests of all the five-member countries.
He dismissed rumours of live examination question papers and tasked all stakeholders to ensure that the examination is conducted under strict and prescribed COVID-19 protocols.
“On the issue of security/insecurity, we are liaising with the relevant Security agencies as this is purely within their purview. Moreover, we are trusting God, as usual, for His divine intervention.
“Let me use this opportunity fo warn all schools, candidates, supervisors, invigilators, principals and proprietors of schools, and indeed, all examination functionaries, to desist from all acts of examination malpractice.
He added, ” All rogue website operators are hereby seriously warned to desist from their nefarious acts.”