Statistics of 2013 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams shows improvement of results as compared to the last four years – a recent investigation has revealed.

The examination body published the results last week. According to them, 70 % of the candidates that sat for the 2013 exam had credits in at least five subjects, a great improvement over the 25.99 % of candidates that had credits in English and Mathematics and three other subjects in 2009. This is a positive result indeed, which have been shown amid the stringent measure taken by the examiners is a radical departure from deplorable performances posted by the examination council in the past.

This is despite the increased strict examination conditions that had been imbibed by WAEC in recent times to curb examination malpractices.

Each year as the examinations were conducted came with gradual decline that became worrisome, even as the students that sat for the examination coined terms for describing examination malpractice.

Special WAEC examination centres nicknamed “miracle centres” where examination malpractice was “officially” allowed at the payment of certain whopping amounts of money blossomed.

According to the results, a total of 1,689,188 candidates, consisting of 920,416 male and 750,852 female candidates sat for the examination. A total number of 1,543,683 candidates, representing 91.38 % have their result fully released, while results of 112,865 candidates, representing 6.75 %, are being withheld in connection with various cases of examination malpractice.

While not necessarily sealing the fate of those in this category, the body said, “The cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the Nigeria examinations Committee (NEC) and the committee’s decision will be communicated”.

“A total of 2,176 cases of multiple entries also were discovered during the processing of the results of all candidates who are guilty of this act would be cancelled”.

2009 – total candidates – 1,373,009 (male – 755,955, female – 617,054) – 25.99 % got credit in both English Language and Mathematics and three other subjects.

2010 – total candidates – 1,351,557 (male – 739,664, female – 611, 893) – 50.09 %, made five credits and above, 39.57 % have six credits and above.

Of the total number of candidates that sat for the examination, it was said that 337,071 candidates, representing 24.94 %, obtained credits in English Language, Mathematics and at least three other subjects. A total of 451,187 candidates, 33.38 %, obtained credits and above in English Language, while 560,974 candidates, 41.50 %, obtained credits and above in Mathematics.

In 2012 there was a slight improvement as results of the WASSCE result showed that candidates performed better. A total of 649,156 candidates representing 38.81 % of the total number of candidates that sat for the examination obtained credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

This represents an 8.9 % increase above the previous year’s performance, where 471,474 candidates representing 30.91 %, had five credits and above in five subjects, including English and Mathematics