2014 SSCE: Parents to be Blamed for Poor Results

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has heaped the blame for the poor performance of candidates in the just released 2014 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results on parents.

Reacting to the ugly situation, the Head National Office of WAEC, Mr. Charles Eguridu, said that government has remoulded education system to equip the Nigerian child with the basic skills required to excel following the robust curriculum, but parents have deviated from the guidance and counselling role, which they are also expected to play.

The 2014 May/June result when compared to that of the last two years shows a marginal decline in the performance of candidates. For instance, in the May/June 2012 WASSCE, 38.81 per cent of candidates obtained five credit passes and above including English Language and Mathematics. In 2013, the percentage declined to 36.57 per cent, as against the 31.28 per cent recorded currently.

“This gradual decline in candidates’ performance despite the clamour for improved results by all and sundry is indeed worrisome. Many expected otherwise”, Eguridu said.

In 2014, out of the 1,692,435 candidates that wrote the examination, a total of 529,425, representing 31.28 per cent, obtained credit passes in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

The results of 145,795 candidates, representing 8.61 per cent, are being withheld in connection with various types of examination malpractices while 86,822 candidates, representing 5.13 per cent have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors, traced mainly to laxity on the part of the candidates and the schools, in the course of registration or writing the examination.

Eguridu however lauded the general conduct of the 2014 examination, saying: “The council, against all odds, which included security, logistics and financial challenges, was able to examine candidates in 39 new entrepreneurial subjects mostly trade, in addition to the existing 37 subjects, in the May/June 2014 WASSCE, in line with the new secondary school curriculum earlier endorsed by the National Council on Education (NCE)”.

He advised candidates who sat for the May/June 2014 WASSCE to check the details of their performance on the council’s results website.