Declining candidates registration in WAEC exams

Nigeria’s population, in all ramifications is increasing daily and the number of children going to school multiplying, yet registration for certificate examination is declining. MARTIN PAUL attempts to exhume reasons.

In the 70s and particularly after the civil war when more families realised the essence of sending their children to school, the offices of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), were beehive of action.
Thousands upon hundreds candidates besieged the offices, either waiting to purchase examination forms or checking their results, which sometimes carried more ‘withheld’ than released.
Needless to say that WAEC was smiling to the banks, while candidates continuously register for certificate examinations, which has remained a passport for further education into the tertiary institution. Then, it was obvious that many candidates entered for the examination, but recent finding shows that despite increase in population, the demand for WAEC examination is declining.

One major reason is that candidates now have alternatives. For instance, the establishment of the National Examinations Council (NEC) and its acceptability by tertiary institutions and foreign universities, have made candidates turned away from WAEC examination, which many believed, in the past, was more difficult than NECO.
Statistics at our disposal showed, however that the past five years, the demand for WAEC certificate examination has dropped, particularly the private candidates examinations.
In 2012,  a total of 396, 614 candidates sat for the  NOV/DEC private candidate examination out of which 150,615 representing 37.97 percent obtained credits in five subjects and above including English Language and Mathematics.
The Head of National Office (HNO) of WAEC, Mr. Charles Eguridu, said however, that there was improvement in performance compared to November/December 2010-2012 WASSCE.He said this “is an indication that investment in the education sector, particularly, under the transformation agenda of the present administration is beginning to yield dividends.”

In 2013, according, 308,217 candidates registered for the examination, out of which ¬¬¬299,784 candidates, consisting of 163,706 male and 133,202 female candidates sat the examination.
Also, the WAEC Nigeria top official added that a total of 86,612 candidates, representing, 29.17 per cent obtained credits in 5 subjects and above including English Language and Mathematics.
He however said, the performance was poor compared the previous examination, when compared to the November/December 2011 and 2012 WASSCE (Private), “there is a marked decline in candidates’ performance” he said.
In 2014, a total of 241,161 candidate sat for the examinations , showing a decline of 67,051 candidates, which 72,522 scored five credits in the two key subjects, giving a pass rate of 29.27 percent.

In 2013, out of 298,971 candidates who sat for the exams, a total of 86,612 candidates, representing, 29.17 percent obtained credits in 5 subjects and above including English Language and Mathematics.
The 2014 performance improved dismally upon the 2013 record, at less than one percent.
Eguridu said the committee’s decision would be communicated to the affected candidates in due course.
Giving a further breakdown of the results of candidates, he said 132,521 male and 114,332 female candidates sat for the examination.
He said that the result, when compared to 2012 and 2013 results, showed a marked increase in candidates’ performance.
He noted that as an organisation that was innovation driven, the council had introduced the “Walk-in-Candidates” registration.
According to him, the platform allows intending candidates who were unable to register during the normal registration period to register and sit for the examination.

In the 2015 November/December General Certificate Examination result, the new head of National Office of the Council, Isaac Adenipekun announced that 237,154 candidates  sat for the examination

Adenipekun, said 79,490 candidates (33.51%) got six credits and above while 113,573 others (47.88%) obtained five credits.
Mathematics and English were among the subjects, he said.
A total of 146,253 candidates (61.67%) obtained credits and above in four subjects, 175,718 others (74.09%) got credits and above in three subjects and 200,304 candidates (84.46%) obtained credits and above in two subjects.
This year, precisely on Friday, December 16, Adenipekun announced that a total of 176, candidates registered for the examination, out of which 172,699 candidates sat the examination.
Of the total number of 172,699  candidates that sat the examination, 149,651 candidates, representing 86.65% obtained credits and above in two  subjects; 134,152  candidates, representing 77.67% obtained credits and above in three  subjects,
A total of 66,497 candidates, representing 38.50%, obtained credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

The percentage of candidates that obtained five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics in the WASSCE for private candidates in 2014 and 2015 was 29.37% and 20.59% respectively.
Of course ,we are aware of  the insurgency in the North-Eastern part of Nigerian which has paralysed educational activities in certain part of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, yet can we say categorically this is the main reason for this sharp decline.
Is it possible that this is just an indication of a drop in students’-school enrolment generally as a result of the harsh economic situation in the country? With the number of parents who have moved their children from private to public school for economic reason and more student outrightly dropping out of school now.