The West African Examinations Council has blocked the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) of 4878 candidates for failing to return learning support materials which have been provided by their schools on behalf of the government.
The support learning materials, which are part of the provisions that the government provides to senior high school students taking part in the Free SHS program are required to be returned after the end of their terms as students in SHS.
In a statement revealing statistics and details of the results of the 2023 WASSCE, WAEC directed such students to visit their schools for further clarification on the situation.
“The results of 4,878 candidates have been blocked for failing to return learning support materials supplied to them by their schools. Such candidates are to contact their schools.”
Meanwhile, details of the 2023 WASSCE results were also revealed in the statement, where it was revealed there has been an increase of candidates population by 5.8% as compared to the previous year’s turnout. In comparison to 2022 WASSCE total number of candidates being 422, 883, this year had a total of 447,204 candidates, including 235,370 females and 211,834 males from 975 SHS across the country.
The statement also revealed there was a fluctuation in the results for English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science in comparison to the previous year, with a contrasting trend in that of Social Studies.
With regards to examination irregularities, 3647 candidates had some of their subject results cancelled due to the possession of foreign materials in the examination halls whilst 839 had their entire results cancelled due to the possession of mobile phones in the exam halls.
Subject results of 4,280 candidates and the entire results of 1,005 candidates were withheld for various suspected offences.
Concurrently, some subject results of candidates from 235 schools were withheld for reasons which include collusion and the use of artificial intelligence generated answers. Such cases were revealed to still be undergoing investigation; cancellation or release of such results will be determined by the outcome of the investigations, according to WAEC.
More details on the 2023 WASSCE results can be found in the following statement by WAEC.
