Kogi, Benue, Kano, Cross River and Abia states are the states with the highest examination malpractice rates in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
A three-year (2014-2016) state-by-state comparison of incidence of examination malpractices compiled by WAEC and obtained by Saturday Tribune shows that Kogi has the highest rate with 22.53% of its candidates implicated in various examination irregularities last year (2016). In 2014, 15.75 percent of candidates that sat the examination in the state were involved in examination fraud.
But perhaps the state to watch even more closely is Abia; its examination malpractice index has been rising steadily over the past three years.
In 2014, only 9.89 percent of its candidates had issues with examination fraud; but the percentage rose to 10.28 in 2015 (of the 52,801 candidates that sat for the examination that year); and last year, it peaked at 17.35 per cent.
Other states gaining increased notoriety in this regards include Adamawa, Kano, Kwara and Cross River.
Last year, 18.87 per cent of WASSCE candidates in Cross River were involved in examination fraud. It was a sharp increase over the 9.26 per cent recorded in 2015. It presented 37,820 candidates for the examination that year.
The rate of examination malpractice in Kwara State had also risen steadily from 7.96 per cent in 2014 to 15.54 per cent in 2016; while Adamawa State has been recording increasing incidence of exam fraud from 12.87 per cent in 2014 to 14.68 per cent last year.
Benue State had the second highest incidence of exam malpractice in 2016 at 19.14 per cent of its total number of candidates, after what seemed a near flawless record of 3.83 per cent the previous year (it presented 47,635 candidates for the examination that year).
It would appear though that the state with the highest ‘recovery rate’ is Yobe. From 26.28 per cent of its candidates in 2014 caught in various malpractices, the percentage has steadily reduced to 5.40 per cent in 2016 (it presented 14,784 candidates in 2015).
Other states showing considerable improvement in this regard include Nasarawa, from 29.26 per cent in 2014 to 5.90 per cent in 2016; Jigawa (23.07 per cent in 2014 to 7.87 per cent in 2016); Plateau (14.36 per cent in 2014 to 1.57 per cent in 2016) and Jigawa (23.07 per cent in 2014 to 7.87 per cent in 2016).
States in the Southwest generally have noticeably low incidence of examination malpractice over the period, especially Lagos (ranging between 3.11 per cent in 2014 and 3.88 per cent in 2016), despite presenting by far the highest number of candidates for the examination.
Ekiti, which had the highest in the region in 2014 (at 13.69 per cent) had reduced to 8.30 per cent in 2016.
However, when compared to other states in the Southwest, it appears examination fraud is still a notable concern in Osun State.
In 2014, according to WAEC data, 10.21 per cent of its candidates were involved in malpractices; in 2015, it increased to 11.38 per cent, though it reduced last year to 9.69 per cent.
In all the other states in the region, incidence of examination fraud has remained between 1.57 per cent (Ondo in 2014) and 6.54 per cent (also Ondo, 2016).
Meanwhile, WAEC says it will commence, from 2018, an additional diet in its examination for private candidates.
This was announced by the registrar of WAEC, Dr Iyi Uwadiae, at a press conference in Lagos last Thursday.
This, according to him, is to address the issue of perceived discrimination or denial of equal opportunity to private candidates.
He said: “WAEC conducts its West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) twice every year, in May/June for school certificates and November/December for private candidates.
“Now the school candidates who wish to retake the examination usually have the opportunity of doing so with the private candidates’ examination.
“With this development, there has been a wave of agitation, criticism and appeal across the sub-region to ameliorate the long of long waiting experience by private candidates who desire another attempt at WASSCE.”
He said the modalities for the commencement of the examination were being worked out, and that the examination could begin in February/March next year.
“Details of the scheduled dates, available subjects, location of centres and their information will be provided by the Head of Nigeria National Office at the appropriate time,” Uwadiae said.
Credit: Tribune
