WAEC excludes Nigerian candidates from new WASSCE PC1 resit exam

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the introduction of a new resit exam for WASSCE candidates, but in a surprising move, Nigerian candidates have been excluded from the program. The new exam, dubbed WASSCE PC1, is a private candidate exam that will allow students who failed certain subjects to resit and obtain their certificates.

According to WAEC's Head of Public Affairs in Ghana, John Kapi, the WASSCE PC1 exam is designed to provide an opportunity for private candidates to resit and improve their grades. However, in a statement released by WAEC Nigeria, it was revealed that the exam is only available to candidates in Ghana, and not to Nigerian candidates.

The exclusion of Nigerian candidates from the WASSCE PC1 exam has raised eyebrows among education stakeholders in the country. Many have expressed surprise and disappointment at the decision, citing the fact that Nigerian candidates have been participating in WAEC exams for decades and should not be excluded from the new program.

In response to the controversy, WAEC Nigeria has clarified that the WASSCE PC1 exam is not applicable to Nigerian candidates and that they will continue to conduct their own private candidate exams as scheduled. The council has been conducting its own first series of private candidate exams since 2017, which are held between February and March.

"We want to assure our candidates and stakeholders that we are committed to providing them with the best possible services," said a spokesperson for WAEC Nigeria. "Our private candidate exams will continue to be conducted as scheduled, and we will ensure that our candidates have access to the same opportunities as their counterparts in other countries."

The exclusion of Nigerian candidates from the WASSCE PC1 exam has sparked debate about the fairness and equity of WAEC's policies. While some have argued that the decision is unfair and discriminatory, others have pointed out that WAEC Nigeria has its own programs and policies in place to support private candidates.

As the controversy continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Nigerian candidates will not be participating in the WASSCE PC1 exam. Instead, they will have to rely on the private candidate exams conducted by WAEC Nigeria. Whether this decision will have any impact on the education sector in Nigeria remains to be seen.

https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/national/waec-excludes-nigerian-candidates-from-new-wassce-pc1-resit-exam/