The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the release of updated rules and regulations, as well as revised eligibility criteria, for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Under these new regulations, the WASSCE for School Candidates and BECE for School Candidates are exclusively available to students in their third and final year of regular Senior High School (SHS) and Junior High School (JHS), respectively.
WAEC strictly prohibits the following activities by schools:
- Registering students who have not been enrolled in SHS/JHS from their first year and progressed to the third year without the required continuous assessment records.
The grading system for these examinations is based on a 70% external examination score and a 30% continuous assessment score.
If students are transferred from one school to another, they must present evidence of necessary assessment and cumulative records.
- Registering students who are not in their final year or are not bona fide students of the school. Reports have surfaced regarding students from public schools being enticed to register in private schools with promises of obtaining excellent grades.
- Registering students who have previously taken the WASSCE (SC) but aim to achieve better grades in one or more subjects by enrolling in public or accredited private schools in the third year solely for examination purposes.
Such students are advised to register for the WASSCE for Private Candidates, which is specifically designed for them and allows them to choose the number of subjects they wish to take.
- Engaging in solicitation for students through advertising the WASSCE for School Candidates in any form, including print, electronic, or social media.
WAEC has warned parents and the general public against registering for the examination with “banner schools,” which often lack the necessary facilities to operate as regular schools.
According to WAEC, many of these establishments are solely established with the intention of registering candidates for the exam, charging exorbitant fees and providing incorrect information.
WAEC aims to maintain the integrity of the examinations and ensure a fair and transparent assessment process for all eligible candidates.
Schools, parents, and students are urged to familiarize themselves with these guidelines to avoid any breach of regulations and ensure a smooth examination experience.
