The results of 13,488 private candidates, out of the 172,699 who sat for the 2016 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), have been withheld.

Mr Olu Adenipekun, Head of National Office (HNO) of the WAEC, announced this while releasing results of the Nov/Dec diet of the examination on Friday in Lagos.

Adenipekun said the results were withheld in connection with various cases of examination malpractice.

According to him, the results withheld represent 7.81 per cent of the total number of candidates who sat for the examination.

He said that the cases of malpractices were being investigated and that reports of the investigations would be presented to the appropriate committee of the council in due course, for consideration.

The HNO added that the committee’s decision would be communicated to the affected candidates thereafter.

Giving a further breakdown of the results, Adenipekun said that 176,621 candidates registered for the examination, out of which 172,699 sat for the tests.

He said that of the figure, 88,290 were males, while 84,409 were females, representing 51.12 per cent and 48.88 per cent respectively.

Adenipekun said that 1,210 other candidates had some of their subjects still being processed due to some errors traceable to them in the course of writing the examination.

“Such errors are being corrected by the council to enable the affected candidates get their results fully processed and released subsequently,’’ he said.

According to him, out of the 172,699 that sat for the examination, 72,229 candidates, representing 41.82 per cent obtained credits and above in six subjects.

A total of 95,294 representing 55.18 per cent obtained credits and above in five subjects, while 116,133 candidates, representing 67.25 per cent, obtained credits and above in four subjects.

Similarly, 134,152 candidates, representing 77.67 per cent, obtained credits and above in three subjects, while 149,651 candidates, representing 86.65 per cent, also scored credits and above in two subjects.

Adenipekun explained that 66,497 candidates, representing 38.50 per cent, obtained credits and above in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

Giving a comparative analysis of the performance of the candidates who sat for the 2016 Nov/Dec of the examination, the HNO said there was an improvement when compared to candidates’ performance in the same examination in the 2014 and 2015 diets.

“In the percentage of candidates that obtained credits and above in five subjects, including English and Mathematics in this year’s examination, there is improvement in the performance this year when compared to the 29.37 per cent in 2014 and 20.59 per cent in 2015 respectively,’’ he said.

Adenipekun attributed the improved performance to the impact of democracy in the country.

He said that many state governments were now showing commitment towards improving education in their respective states.

“More infrastructure are being put in place, more schools also being built, while existing ones are being improved upon,’’ the HNO said.

On its part, he said that WAEC maintained the standard of the examinations at all times.

He assured that the council would continue to organise seminars for stakeholders to discuss the way forward for the Nigerian child.

“We will always ensure the examinations are taken to the places of habitat of the candidates, no matter the challenges.

“This is to ensure that no one is denied the right to education,’’ he said.

The NHO said that 19 blind candidates registered and sat for the examination.

Adenipekun said that candidates who sat for the examination would be able to check the details of their performance on the council’s website in the next 24 hours. (NAN)

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