The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has launched a new resit initiative, enabling candidates to retake their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) as early as January and February, rather than waiting for the next private exam session.
John Kapi, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, announced the development in a statement, explaining that the programme, called WASSCE PC1, provides a quicker opportunity for students to improve their grades.
Registration is open until January 8, with exams scheduled to run from January 24 to February 15, 2025.
To aid candidates in their preparation, WAEC plans to release chief examiners’ reports, offering detailed feedback on common mistakes and effective study techniques.
The initiative has been welcomed by the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUS). Felix Oluwaseun Agbesanwa, the chairman of the Ogun State chapter, described it as a positive step but suggested extending the registration deadline to the end of January to accommodate more candidates.
“Students can now focus on the specific papers they failed, pass them, and potentially combine results to clear the ‘two sittings’ requirement,” Agbesanwa stated.
However, he cautioned against students becoming complacent, urging them to use the opportunity responsibly.
The exams will initially be conducted in regional capitals due to the limited number of candidates. WAEC remains optimistic that this policy will help students avoid year-long delays in theiry academic pursuits and reduce examination malpractice.
Students with canceled results are also eligible for the resit, provided they are not banned for malpractice. WAEC hopes the initiative will provide a lifeline to students while ensuring the integrity of its examinations.
