The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the withholding of results for 215,267 candidates from the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) due to significant issues of examination malpractice. This decision follows the completion of the WASSCE, which took place from April 30 to June 24, 2024.
In a statement released on Monday, Dr. Amos Dangut, Head of WAEC’s Nigeria Office, provided details regarding the reasons behind the withholding of these results. He explained that the action was taken in response to multiple documented cases of exam fraud that compromised the integrity of the examination process.
Dr. Dangut highlighted that the percentage of withheld results for this year stands at 4.37%, a notable decrease from the 16.29% recorded in the 2023 WASSCE. This reduction reflects WAEC’s ongoing efforts to address and mitigate instances of malpractice.
WAEC remains committed to tackling examination fraud and has issued a stern warning to all stakeholders—including candidates, supervisors, teachers, and schools—about the consequences of engaging in dishonest practices. Dr. Dangut specifically noted concerns about the persistent use of mobile phones in examination halls and organized cheating schemes in some schools. All reported cases are currently under investigation, and findings will be reviewed by the appropriate committee for final decisions.
Candidates affected by these decisions will be notified through their respective schools. Additionally, those who believe they have been wrongly implicated in malpractice cases have the option to seek resolution through the WAEC website.
Dr. Dangut also shared that out of the 1,805,216 candidates who sat for the examination, 73.79%—equivalent to 1,332,089 candidates—achieved credit or higher in at least five subjects, with or without including English Language and/or Mathematics.
Candidates are advised to check their results online during a 48-hour window that will open following the results’ upload. They should also apply for their Digital Certificates as needed. For those who have settled their financial obligations to WAEC, results will be accessible on the Council’s website within the next 12 hours, and copies of the Result Listing will be sent to schools shortly thereafter.