The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has introduced a new initiative, allowing students to resit their West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) exams as early as January and February 2025. This marks a significant shift from the previous system where candidates had to wait for the next available private exam session.
WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, announced the new programme, known as WASSCE PC1, which offers students a quicker opportunity to enhance their grades. Students who review their results and realize they need to retake one or more papers can register online or through WAEC-accredited internet cafés until January 8, 2025. The exams will take place between January 24 and February 15, 2025.
In order to assist candidates in preparing for the resit exams, WAEC plans to expedite the release of chief examiners’ reports, which will provide detailed feedback on where students went wrong in their exams and how they can improve their study approach. These reports will be widely publicized through banners, the WAEC website, and the results checker platform to ensure students and parents are well informed.
WAEC has also stated that students whose results were previously canceled can participate in the WASSCE PC1 exams, provided they have not been banned due to malpractice. Initially, the exams will be held in regional capitals due to the limited number of candidates, and students are urged to complete their registration by the 8th of January to take advantage of this opportunity.
WAEC expressed optimism that this initiative will help candidates improve their grades swiftly and qualify for the upcoming admission cycle, preventing delays in their academic journey.
Felix Oluwaseun Agbesanwa, Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUS), praised the new policy as a step in the right direction. However, he suggested extending the registration deadline until the end of January to give students more time to concentrate on the papers they failed. He also emphasized that if students pass the resit exams, the results will be added to their previous scores, eliminating the need for multiple sittings.
Agbesanwa further highlighted the potential for this initiative to reduce exam malpractices, as it encourages students to prepare thoroughly for the resit exams. He acknowledged that while the registration fee for the resits may be lower than that for the full exam, students should not view this as an excuse to be lazy but rather as an opportunity to improve their academic performance.
Despite some concerns, Agbesanwa expressed hope that the policy will be implemented with sincerity, ensuring that its intended goals are achieved.
