Gentlemen of the media, it is with pleasure that I welcome you all to this press briefing. Since this is my first interaction with most of you this year, let me use the opportunity on behalf of members of WAEC Management team to say happy new year to you and wish you a prosperous 2009.
I would also like to appreciate you, most sincerely, for your understanding at all times and for the support which you have continued to give the Council in its efforts to improve service delivery to the good people of Nigeria. I wish to appeal to you for greater cooperation as we continue to work diligently to maintain standard and safeguard the integrity of our examinations.
Gentlemen of the media we shall continue to appreciate the contributions of governments, corporate organizations and patriotic private individuals who assist the Council in its efforts at improving service delivery to the Nigerian public. In this regard we would like to express appreciation to His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Executive Governor of Lagos State for donating office complexes at Ojo and Ikorodu to accommodate our two satellite offices, which the Council established in March 2008 to bring its services closer to the people of Lagos State in the two areas.
Similarly, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to inform you that the Government of Zamfara State recently provided accommodation and other logistic support for the take-off of the Council’s branch office in the state. As a result of this people-oriented gesture, the WAEC Branch Office in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State became operational in January 2009. Permit me to use this occasion to express the Council’s deep appreciation to His Excellency, Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, for the opportunity and encouragement given to the Council to bring its services closer to the good people of Zamfara State.
Similarly, Management is working closely with the Government and people of Taraba State to ensure that the Council’s branch office becomes operational in Jalingo, the state capital very soon.
I want to assure all stakeholders in education that the Council will continue to update its service delivery system, particularly through the deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the introduction of other service-oriented initiatives, the adoption of world best practices in the conduct of examinations and greater commitment to excellence, which is the hallmark of the Council.
Gentlemen of the media, I am very pleased to announce that the results of the November/December 2008 WASSCE are being released today.
A total of 372,600 candidates sat the examination. Out of this figure, 339,072 candidates, representing 91.0%, have their full results processed, while 33,536 candidates, representing about 9.0%, have a few of their subjects still being processed, as various errors made by them are being corrected by the Council. The candidates committed some of these errors at the registration stage, while some were committed during the conduct of the examination.
Of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, 127,200 candidates, representing 34.1%, obtained credits and above in at least five (5) subjects, including English Language or Mathematics. Among them are 66,353 (17.8%) male candidates, and 60,847 (16.3%) female candidates, while 85,910 candidates, representing 23.1% of the total figure, obtained credits and above in at least five(5) subjects including English Language and Mathematics.
Similarly, 176,783 candidates representing 47.5% obtained credits and above in four (4) subjects, while 221,851 candidates representing 59.5% obtained credits and above in three (3) subjects. A total of 266,505 candidates or 71.5% obtained credits and above in two (2) subjects.
Among the candidates that obtained credits and above in five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, the results show that 29,268 candidates, 7.9% are Science oriented; 7,552 candidates, 2.0% are Social Science biased, while 29,527 candidates, 7.9% are Arts oriented.
The results of 54,071 (14.5%) candidates are being investigated based on various reports of their alleged involvement in malpractice during the conduct of the examination. The reports of the malpractice cases have been compiled for presentation to the Nigeria Examinations Committee of the Council. The Committee’s decisions will be communicated to the affected candidates through the Council’s zonal and branch offices in due course.
Candidates that sat the examination will be able to check their results on the Council’s result-checking website http://www.waecdirect.org as from today, Friday, 20th February 2009.
Thank you and God bless
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