WAEC results: Senate summons minister over mass failure

Disturbed by the poor performances of Nigerian students in the West African Examination Council (WAEC) results, the Senate has resolved to summon the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, and the Head, National Office of the Council, as well as stakeholders connected with the problem.

The minister is expected to appear before the Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary) for interactive session to identify the causes of WAEC recurring mass failures and recommend appropriate measures to overcome the challenge.

The committee, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wamakko (APC, Sokoto North), was, however, mandated to submit a comprehensive report to the Senate within one month for further legislative action.

These resolutions were sequel to a motion moved to that effect by by Senator Umaru Kurfi (APC, Katsina Central).

Kurfi in the motion titled: “Need to address recurring mass failure in Senior School Certificate Examinations conducted by West African Examination Council, noted that recurring cases of mass failure in the examination is embarrassing to the nation and prejudicial to the interest of Nigerian secondary school students and parents.

He expressed worry that “in

both 2009 and 2010 WAEC, only 25.99 and 24.94 per cent respectively passed with five credits including Mathematics and English, while the remaining others constituting 70 per cent failed.”

According to him, in 2011 May/June WAEC, only 649, 159 out of 1, 672, 224 candidates that wrote the examinations which represents just 38.81 per cent got five credits and above including in the core subjects of Mathematics and English Language”.

The same failure rate he said occurred in 2013 WAEC, with 29.17 per cent candidates passing the November/December WAEC examinations while 70 per cent failed.”

He added that in both 2017

both 2009 and 2010 WAEC, only 25.99 and 24.94 per cent respectively passed with five credits including Mathematics and English, while the remaining others constituting 70 per cent failed.”

According to him, in 2011 May/June WAEC, only 649, 159 out of 1, 672, 224 candidates that wrote the examinations which represents just 38.81 per cent got five credits and above including in the core subjects of Mathematics and English Language”.

The same failure rate he said occurred in 2013 WAEC, with 29.17 per cent candidates passing the November/December WAEC examinations while 70 per cent failed.”

He added that in both 2017

and January/February 2018 private examinations, only 17.13 per cent candidates passed with five credits including Mathematics and English Language, respectively, while the remaining over 70 per cent candidates failed.”

In their contributions, Barau JIbrin (APC, Kano North), Emmanuel Paulker (PDP, Bayelsa Central) and Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South), respectively, sought urgent intervention of stakeholders on the recurring challenge with a view to improving education sector.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, called on the stakeholders, including senators to urgently swift into action of addressing the recurring mess facing the sector.

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