The West African Senior School Certificate Examination has clarified that the remedial examination, which was reportedly announced on a Ghana TV programme, is not a new development for Nigerian candidates.
An online report cited John Kapi, the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, who made the statement during an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show in Ghana on Tuesday, December 31.
Speaking to our correspondent on Monday, the Head of the Nigeria Office at the West African Examinations Council, Dr. Amos Dangut, explained that Nigerian candidates have been resitting exams for over six years.
He clarified that school candidates who fail to pass all the required subjects during their formal schooling are not expected to retake the entire exam. Instead, they can opt for the private candidate exam, where they can resit only the specific subjects they failed
“As for the recent buzz about a resit option in February, this is not a new concept but rather an extension of the existing structure of private candidate exams,” Dangut explained. “If a candidate has completed formal schooling and failed a subject or two, they are expected to sit for the private candidate exams.
This could be perceived as a ‘resit’ for those who have already taken the school exams but need to remedy their results.”
Dangut emphasised that the private candidate exam has long included the opportunity for students to retake specific subjects.
“In Nigeria, this resit option has been an essential part of the journey to obtaining a WAEC certification,” he added.
He also noted that the new development in Ghana is a response to the growing demand for more opportunities for students to improve their results.
“It’s important to note that while the option exists for private candidates, the rules differ for those who take the school candidate exams. After completing formal schooling, candidates cannot retake the entire exam if they fail a subject. Instead, they must take the private candidate exam to remedy the deficiency,” Dangut said.