The state of Zamfara and Sokoto has not submitted any students from their public schools to compete in the national West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), which will take place starting on Monday. In those two states, candidates for the exam will only be selected from private schools.

At a press conference in Lagos on Monday, Mr. Patrick Areghan, the head of Nigeria’s National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), revealed the information to inform the public about the country’s test readiness.

Areghan expressed his amazement at the situation, but he was unable to obtain a clear explanation from the two states for their decision to not register their kids for this crucial test.

The HNO, who also frowned at some states government which he refused to mention for non-payment of their students’ exam fees for the 2021 edition, disclosed that a total of (1,607, 975) candidates comprising 800,005 males(representing 49.76%) and 800, 724 females(representing 50.24%) registered for the school-based exam from across 20, 221 schools nationwide.

He cautioned students, schools, and exam administrators to shun all types of malpractice during the exercise as the council would not take it lightly with anyone detected cheating or attempting to cheat no matter how highly ranked the person or institution may be.

Additionally, he counseled parents, schools, and candidates to avoid falling for the bait of questionable websites and “miracle” centers that offer to set up things just for applicants or claim to have exam questions at their disposal.

According to him, the warning was required to inform students that there would be serious repercussions for anyone found to have attempted or engaged in exam cheating.
Areghan stated that WAEC will do all within its power to preserve the integrity of the exam standards, which remain unaltered.
Despite some years of disruption, he expressed his satisfaction that the school-based version of the council exam had returned to May/June.

Areghan, who said the council purposely did not make the National Identification Number(NIN) necessary this year for candidates so as not to deny anyone of registration, said that the Covid-19 protocols as mandated by the federal government will still be observed at all the exam places.