Headlines
Candidates No Longer Ready to Study, WAEC Laments, Releases Results, Withholds 365,564
The West African Examinations Council has released the 2022 West African Senior School Certificate Examination results for school and withheld the results of 365,564 candidates in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.
While announcing the release of the results on Monday at the WAEC office, Yaba, Head of Nigeria National Office, Mr Patrick Areghan, said students’ preparations for the examinations were poor, adding that candidates were no longer ready to learn.
He explained that the 365,564 candidates represented 22.83% of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, saying the number was 11.74% higher than the 10.9% recorded in the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2021.
Areghan said, ‘‘Reasons for this are not far-fetched. Candidates are no longer ready to learn. Preparations for examinations are poor. There is over-reliance on the so-called ‘Expo’, which is actually non-existent. Candidates simply got frustrated when they got into the examination hall and discovered that all they had celebrated was fake. This has pitiably led to some of them failing the examination, which if they had relied on themselves and studied hard, would have passed like many others.’’
While giving the performance analysis, he revealed that 88.04% of the candidates who sat the 2022 WASSCE obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects (i.e with or without English Language and/ or Mathematics and 76.36% obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
Areghan revealed that a total of 1,607,981 candidates registered for the examination from 20,222 recognised secondary schools in the country, adding that of the number that registered for the examination, 1,601,047 candidates sat the examination.
“The analysis of the statistics of the performance of candidates in the examination shows that out of the 1,601,047 candidates that sat the examination, 1,409,529 candidates, representing 88.04%, obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects (i.e with or without English Language and/ or Mathematics;
“1,222,505 candidates, representing 76.36%, obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.”
Areghan stressed that the results of candidates who were sponsored by States indebted to the Council would not be released until they pay up.
“The results are being uploaded on the results website. Candidates who sat the examination and who have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Council can access their results on the Council’s results website within the next twelve hours.
“Copies of the Result Listing will be sent to schools shortly. I need not restate the fact that the results of candidates who are sponsored by States indebted to the Council will not be released now until they pay up. We appeal to them to do so to enable the affected schools/candidates to access their results.”
He lamented that the increasing use of cell phones in the examination hall, in spite of the existing ban, and non-adherence to registration deadline were nagging issues.
‘‘This was perhaps the highest headache the Council encountered on the road to the conduct of the examination. Some schools simply ‘slept off’ and failed to do the needful.
‘‘Some failed to upload their students’ CASS at the stipulated time and many failed to meet registration deadlines, to the extent that some schools ended up not presenting their students for the examination. Yet, some who registered their students offline failed to upload their entries! Again, others failed to meet deadlines due to criminal ‘shopping’ for candidates. By the time they realized it, the window had closed,’’ said Areghan.
The Punch
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
