By Martin Paul with agency report
Abuja
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has concluded arrangements to conduct the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) twice in a year for private candidates.
The private candidate examinations, hitherto called the General Certificate of Education (GCE), was conducted once in every October/December for adult candidates or those, who probably did not make their papers at the May/June examinations.
Registrar of the council, Mr. Iyi Uwadiae, said in Accra, Ghana at the Registrar’s Staff Appraisal Committee meeting that twice a year examination would commence from 2017.
“The West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates known as the November/December diet for private candidates will now be conducted in January/February and August/September”, he disclosed.
Uwadiae said the council took the decision to ensure that many private candidates, who desire the certificate for various purposes, have the opportunity of writing the examination, adding: “We have concluded arrangements and this will commence next year in January /February and August/September every year in all the member countries.
“This development, however, does not affect that of the school candidates, popularly called May/June. That one remains once a year for all school candidates”.
He explained that administering the WASSCE for private candidates twice a year was part of the council’s mandate to render qualitative service to all member nations, adding: “The council is looking forward to a more rewarding 2017.
“That is the essence of this meeting, which brings all the Heads of National Offices (HNO) from member countries together.
“This meeting takes place once a year to discuss the appraisals of the international staff in member countries and recommend members of staff that are due for promotion.
“During the meeting too, there is also a follow up action on staff with negative appraisals after which recommendations from the committee are forwarded to the international committee for ratifications.
“All these are parts of what we do in order to make the activities of the council more relevant and beneficial to our people,’’ he said.
Mr. Uwadiae said that WAEC was also looking forward to conducting its examination in many other countries with English speaking students, studying with Nigeria curriculum as possible.
“We are open to any country in Africa which desire to have us set examination for students, who are being taught with English and uses Nigeria curriculum.
“As long as these countries have all requisites needed for the conduct of our examination on ground, we will be there to carry out our mandate.
“For instance, we are currently rendering such services to some French speaking countries like Togo, Benin Republic and Cote d’Ivoire.
“These countries approached the council and we are doing that for their English speaking students who want our certificates,” he said.