The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has provided guidance for schools and candidates whose May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results have been withheld due to alleged exam malpractice. The council explained how affected candidates can expedite the release of their results by following a specific process.
WAEC spokesperson Mrs. Moyosola Adesina clarified in an interview that the withholding of results is a standard procedure when there are suspicions of malpractice. Out of the 1,805,216 candidates who took the school-based exam, results for 215,267 candidates, representing 11.92%, have been withheld. These results are currently under investigation to determine whether they will be released.
Mrs. Adesina emphasized that WAEC does not delay investigations into reported cases of malpractice, as the council understands the importance of these results for candidates’ admissions into universities and other tertiary institutions.
“We know the significance of these results for students’ academic futures, and we aim to resolve the issues as quickly as possible,” she said.
She explained that WAEC reviews each case individually through a committee system. The committee thoroughly examines the circumstances and makes decisions on which results can be released.
“Some results will be released even before the Nigeria Examination Committee (NEC) of WAEC meets in October, or possibly earlier,” Mrs. Adesina stated.
To provide a fair hearing, WAEC has set up a portal where candidates or schools can lodge complaints and prove their innocence. The portal, accessible via [https://waecinternational.org/complaints](https://waecinternational.org/complaints), allows affected candidates to submit their details and understand the specific reasons for their results being withheld.
“Candidates or schools can request to see their papers and provide evidence to support their case. If they can convincingly prove their innocence, their results will be released before the NEC meeting,” Mrs. Adesina assured.
She also noted that while some cases of malpractice might go undetected during the exam, they are often discovered during the marking process.
“Sometimes, exam malpractice involves multiple candidates or even an entire school for a particular subject. We ensure that every case is thoroughly reviewed to avoid punishing innocent students,” she explained.
Mrs. Adesina highlighted that WAEC has released withheld results in the past, including some from last year, before the NEC’s general release.
She encouraged affected candidates to use the portal to resolve their issues quickly, adding, “This process is in place to ensure that no student is unjustly denied their results.”
Mrs. Adesina reassured students and parents that WAEC is committed to handling all cases fairly and transparently, ensuring that all deserving students receive their results in a timely manner.