The West African Examinations Council has said 00 per cent candidates who took the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

It also said the results of  215,149 candidates were withheld.

It added that 86.99 per cent of candidates who sat for the examination obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, not necessarily including English Language and Mathematics.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday to announce the release of results of the 2020 WASSCE, the Head of the National Office, Patrick Areghan, said 1,538,445 candidates sat for the examination.

He said, “The analysis of the statistics of the performance of candidates in the examination shows that out of the 1,538,445 candidates that sat for the examination,1,338,348 candidates, representing 86.99 per cent, obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics); 1,003,668 candidates, representing 65.24 per cent obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

“Of this number, 497,139, that is 49.53 per cent, were male candidates, while 506,529, that is 50.47 per cent, were female candidates.  The percentage of candidates in this category in the WASSCE for school candidates 2019, that is, those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics was 64.18 per cent.  Thus, there is a marginal 1.06 per cent improvement in performance in this regard.”

Areghan said the results of 215,149 candidates, representing 13.98 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, were being withheld.

He said, “A total of 1,549,740 candidates registered for the examination from 19,129 recognised secondary schools in Nigeria.  Of the number that registered for the examination, 1,538,445 candidates sat for the examination.

“The examination was also administered to candidates from some schools in Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, where the Nigeria curriculum for Senior Secondary School is being used.

“The results of 215,149 candidates, representing 13.98 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat the examination are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice. The cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate committee of the council for determination in due course.”

By Grace Edema