The West African Examination Council (WAEC) says it will release the results of the May/June 2015 West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) it earlier withheld due to indebtedness by some states.
Announcement by WAEC on Monday that it had withheld results of about 13 states that were yet to pay the examination fees of their students after releasing the MAY/June 2015 WASSCE results sparked nationwide uproar.
However, after a meeting between officials of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the examination body in Abuja on Wednesday, agreement was struck to release the results.
Charles Eguridu, Head of the Nigeria National Office of WAEC, explained after the meeting that the examination council decided to listen to appeals to release the results, especially because affected candidates would need the results for admission purposes. He further disclosed that the Council realized that the default in payment of the examination fees by the affected states was a result of the prevailing economic challenges facing the country in recent times.
“The management of the council has decided that the results of the candidates of indebted states would be released in deference to all the appeals and commitment of the NGF. The results are, therefore, to be uploaded on our result website in the next 24 hours. This decision is based on our wish not to impede the educational progress of any Nigerian child,” Eguridu said.
The WAEC boss explained further: “Our decision to open this window of opportunity, that is the resort to advance payment guarantees for affected states, was as a result of our appreciation of the prevailing economic challenges facing the nation and in order not to jeopardise the educational progress of the candidates of the affected states.
“However, following appeals from our stakeholders, including parents, the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of secondary Schools, notable Nigerians, other well -meaning citizens and most importantly, the intervention of secretariat of Nigeria governor’s Forum, which we have informed is on the directive of the chairman of the forum, governor of Zamfara state, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, who has indicated that the forum will positively resolve the matter as soon as possible, we have decided to hearken to appeals and review our earlier position.
“More so, the continued withholding of the results will adversely affect the educational prospects of the affected candidates for admission purposes.”
By Olisemeka Obeche
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