WAEC Dismisses 2020 Examination Cancellation

The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, on Sunday disclosed that the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, (WASSCE) , 2020 has not been cancelled, urging the public to dismiss any form of rumour or fake news.

According to a statement by the Head of WAEC, Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Areghan, explained that a notice alleging the cancellation of 2020 WASSCE was false.

Areghan described false information as the handiwork of mischief-makers, who are out to defraud innocent and unsuspecting candidates and their parents adding that the piece of news is certainly not from the Council.

The examination fee , he said was N13,950 only, not N22,500, thus not reasonable to refund candidates an amount higher than what they had paid to register for the examination.

He noted that WAEC, as an examining body in the sub-region, has not announced the cancellation of the 2020 WASSCE; saying it only announced a postponement until normalcy is restored.

He said on March 20, WAEC announced the postponement of the examination in appreciation of the realities of the moment and in complete deference to the Federal Government, regarding its various control measures against the spread of the COVID-19.

He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a fake publication circulating in the social media, to the effect that the West African Examinations Council had cancelled the 2020 WASSCE for school candidates as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and was, therefore, set to refund N22,500 to candidates who had enrolled for the examination.

“The publication is patently false and deceitful. It is nothing but the handiwork of mischief-makers, who are out to defraud innocent and unsuspecting candidates and their parents/guardians.

“This piece of news is certainly not from the West African Examinations Council, WAEC. It falls short of the Council’s style, language and factual details. They got it all wrong.

“The examination was supposed to start in Nigeria on April 6, 2020 and not April 15, 2020, as stated by the authors.

Areghan added: “We wish to use this opportunity to reassure all registered candidates, schools and other stakeholders that once the situation returns to normal, the Council will come up with a new international timetable for the conduct of2020 WASSCE in the West African sub-region, after due consultations with relevant stakeholders.