…..Starts Wed, 31st January
The Head of National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Nigeria, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut has said that the Council has concluded plans for it first-ever computer-based examination, which will be delivered in hybrid mode.
Speaking at a press briefing in Nigeria held on Monday on the level of preparations and readiness for the conduct of CB-WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2024 – First Series, Dr. Dangut said the hybrid mode entails that, the Objective or Multiple Choice questions will be rendered on-screen and candidates are required to give their responses on the screen.
“The Essay and Practical questions will be rendered on-screen, likewise, but candidates will be required to give their responses using the answer booklets provided.
He disclosed that the conduct of the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for Private Candidates, 2024 – First Series, will take place from Wednesday, January 31 and end on Saturday, February 17, 2024, in Nigeria, spanning a period of two weeks and four days.
The HNO explained further that WAEC Nigeria, in keeping with its vision of being a world-class examining body and its core value of innovation, has taken this bold step to offer candidates a viable alternative to the Pen and Paper model of examinations while giving its stakeholders and publics, a view of the great potentials that exist in Computer-based approach to assessments.
Giving the number of registered candidates, Dr. Dangut said the Council is encouraged by the acceptance of this innovation as evidenced in the number of entries received so far.
“As of today, Monday, January 29, 2024, a total of 8,285 candidates from across the federation have registered for the examination, 3,949 are male, representing (47.66%) while Four Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty -Six (4336) are female, representing (52.3%) of the total candidature.

He added that Candidates would be examined in 19 subjects, made up of 26 papers. “For the successful conduct of the examination and to curb examination malpractices, carefully selected examination officials have been trained by the Council to serve as Proctors during the conduct of the examination.”
Stating that the results of candidates who sit the examination will be released 45 days after the conduct of the last paper, he explained that WAEC, in a bid to further deliver on its mandate and as a way of helping candidates, has made available its e-learning portal with materials that will demonstrate to candidates, the requirements for the conduct of the CB-WASSCE.
“Candidates should visit https://www.waeconline.org.ng/e-Learning/index.htm to access the portal. In addition, a tutorial video on how to navigate the examination portal is available on all our social media platforms. Candidates can also use that to acquaint themselves with relevant information on demand and upon enquiry.
He also explained that duly awarded certificates will be available on request via certrequest.waec.org.ng. “Similarly, candidates can access digital copies of their certificates via the WAEC Digital Certificate portal by logging on to www.waec.org.
He however said the Council is aware that the news of the innovation was initially greeted with some level of resistance but according to him this only served as fuel for the Council to forge ahead on its course to conduct the CB-WASSCE.
“WAEC as an organisation with the core values of Excellence, Integrity and Professionalism undergirding its processes, analysed its plans, identified possible hiccups and provided solutions thereto.
“The CBT centres where the examination would be hosted across the nation were inspected with checklists and equipped with servers for the duration of the conduct of the examination.
Thanking the stakeholders, Dr Dangut stated that the Council has and will always work hand-in-hand with the Federal Ministry of Education, the various State Ministries of Education, the Nigeria Police Force, other security agencies and stakeholders, to deliver, as usual, a credible examination to the Nigerian Child and the general public.
“We remain ever grateful to the Honourable Minister of Education, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, all the State Ministries of Education, and all stakeholders, for their usual support and cooperation, even as we count on them once again,” he said.
BV.