Coronavirus: 2021 WASSCE to begin by August not May – WAEC

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, discloses that the 2021 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will begin in August and not May.

WAEC additionally discredited reports by some news outlets that it postponed the examination.

According to a statement on Friday, Demianus Ojijeogu, the Acting Head, Public Affairs, WAEC, Nigeria, declared that Patrick Areghan, WAEC Nigeria Head, was quoted out of context at a conference on Tuesday when he made known the release of results of WASSCE for private candidates.

In accordance with Ojijeogu, Areghan stated that the actual situation of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the academic calendars of schools; therefore, it will be difficult for candidates to sit for the examination in May since most of the schools are still in their first term.

The statement was named, ‘Conduct Of WASSCE For School Candidates, 2021 In Nigeria’.

The statement declared that Areghan had at the Tuesday meeting stated, “Let me also use this opportunity to dispel rumours being peddled about by some people regarding the conduct of WASSCE for School Candidates, 2021. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still very much felt in the education sector.

“The academic calendar has been distorted. It will, therefore, not be possible to have the examination in May/June this year. A convenient International Timetable for the conduct of the examination will soon be released.”

The statement further said, “The arrangement is in line with the current academic calendar and was done in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.

“Consequently, the Council wishes to inform schools, candidates and the general public that the examination will hold from August 16, 2021 to September 30, 2021. The International timetable for the conduct of the examination will be released in due course.”