The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued strong warnings to 109 secondary schools across Nigeria for engaging in exam malpractice during the May/June 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
It also withdrew recognition from nine schools found guilty of aiding large-scale cheating.
Among the 109 schools that received official warnings are some well-known names in Nigeria’s education sector. They include King’s College, Lagos, CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Igbobi College, Yaba, Baptist Girls Academy, Obanikoro, and Whitesands School, Lekki.
Others are Vetland Senior Grammar School, Ifako-Ijaiye, Keke Senior High School, Solomon Grace Secondary School, Abule-Egba, Immaculate Heart School, Maryland, and Lagos City College, Yaba.
Additional schools cited include Saint Timothy’s College, Onike, Ilupeju Senior Grammar School, Gbaja Senior Girls High School, Akerele, Jakande Estate Comprehensive Senior College, Akesan, and Onward High School, Ikate.
Also on the list are Coker Senior Secondary School, Orile Iganmu, Iponri Estate Senior High School, Brainstar College, Okota, Bamfem Comprehensive High School, Magbon, and Festac Senior Grammar School, Festac Town.
WAEC stated that these schools were found to have allowed or supported practices that violated exam integrity during the 2024 WASSCE.
WAEC Derecognises Nine Schools Over Cheating
The nine derecognised schools will no longer be allowed to present candidates for future WAEC exams. According to WAEC’s Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC), these schools were found to have committed serious infractions, leading to the withdrawal of their accreditation.
The affected schools are:
- Lagos Baptist Senior High Secondary School, Agege
- Assfood International College, Ketu
- Greendome High School, Oworoshoki
- Community Senior Secondary School, Adeniran Ogunsanya
- Eunice College, Odutola
- Lagout Ajasa, Command Griffiths College, Igbobi-Ikorodu
- Submile College, Ojo
- Rose Bethel Comprehensive High School, Mosafejo, Ojo
- Lily Pride Comprehensive High School, Igando
Of these nine, two are state-owned while seven are privately-owned.
WAEC noted that these schools did not register candidates for the 2025 WASSCE. Instead, the students were moved to other centers to sit for the exams.
WAEC Cites Use of Phones, Organised Cheating
WAEC raised concerns over the growing use of mobile phones during exams, despite an existing ban. It also flagged “organised cheating” as a persistent problem in some schools.
In the words of WAEC’s Senior Deputy Registrar, “The Nigeria Examinations Committee investigated various reported cases of examination malpractice and consequently decided to warn or derecognize the following schools.”
The body warned that allowing such practices to continue could damage the credibility of the WASSCE and affect the reputation of Nigeria’s education system.
Over 215,000 Results Withheld in 2024
WAEC reported that out of 1,805,216 candidates who sat for the May/June 2024 WASSCE across 25,126 schools, the results of 215,267 candidates were withheld. This represents 11.92% of all candidates.
The exam was also conducted in schools in Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea, where Nigeria’s secondary school curriculum is used.
The council stated that investigations into the withheld results are ongoing, and decisions will be made in line with established guidelines.
Rate, Like 👍, Comment, share this article and Follow us on our social media handles.
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
