An alarmingly high number of Nigerian children can no longer write good English or solve Mathematical problems for their age grade. This has resulted in mass failure of candidates who sat for the Nov/Dec 2013 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The results released yesterday showed a serious decline performance, compared to 2012 and 2011. The results announced to journalists at the WAEC office, Yaba, Lagos, by Head of WAEC Nigeria National Office, Charles Eguridu, showed that only 86,612 candidates, representing 29.17 per cent, out of the 296,827 that sat for the examination obtained credits in five subjects and above including English Language and Mathematics.

“In the November/December 2013 WASSCE, a total of 308,217 candidates registered for the examination, out of which 296,827 candidates, consisting 163,659 male and 133,168 female candidates sat for the examination,” Eguridu said.

Providing further details, Eguridu said: “Of the total number of candidates that sat for the examination, 120,115 candidates, representing 40.46 per cent obtained six credits and above; 161,721 candidates, representing 54.48 per cent obtained five credits and above.

“In addition, 198,832 candidates, representing 66.98 per cent obtained credits and above in four subjects, while 230,325 candidates, representing 77.59 per cent obtained credits and above in three subjects. A total 256,500 candidates, representing 86.4 per cent, obtained credits and above in two subjects.”

Eguridu noted that this represents a serious decline in candidates’ performance over the past three years.

“In 2011, 139,827, representing 36.07 per cent, obtained credits in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, while in 2012, 150,615, representing 37.97 per cent, passed but this year, we only had 86,612, representing 29.17 per cent,” he said.

The WAEC chief disclosed that “a total number of 38,260 candidates’ results, representing 12.88 per cent, are being withheld in connection with various cases of examination malpractice.”

He advised candidates who sat for the examination to check for details of their performance on the council’s website within the next 36 hours.

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