The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has adjusted the timetable of the ongoing November/December 2015 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for private candidates to allow Muslim candidates participate in the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
WAEC Head of Nigeria National Office, Mr. Charles Eguridu, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during a media parley with members of Education Correspondents, said that Council had rescheduled the examination that was supposed to take place on September 25 to October 10 because of Sallah festivities.
According to the new timetable, the Government 2 (Essay) and Government 1 (Objective) that were scheduled for 2.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Friday, September 18, would now hold by 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. for the papers 2 and 1 on the same date.
The Mathematics (2 & 1) earlier scheduled for Friday, September 25, has been postponed to Saturday, October 10, with Paper 2 holding from 9:30 a.m. to noon and Paper 1 would hold from 3.00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
He said: “The examination body was concerned about the yearning of the people.
“Our Muslim brothers and sisters expressed concern about the WAEC timetable of the ongoing examination. Some papers were scheduled between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. and some just before the end of Jumat prayers.
“Our attention has been drawn to this concern and only this afternoon, the Chairman of WAEC Board in Nigeria called my attention and we have decided to effect some amendment on the ongoing examination to address the concerns.”
He added that WAEC has decided to change the November/December examination to Private Candidates Examination, while the May/June exams will be referred to as School Candidates Examination.
“With effect from next year, what is called the Nov/Dec. examination will be referred to as Private Candidates’ Examination so it will no longer be tied to the month and the May/June examination will be referred to as School Candidates Examinations.
In his remarks at the occasion, Chairman of WAEC Board, who is also the Director of Basic and Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Ann Okonkwo, called on Nigerians to support WAEC in its efforts to meet the growing demands.
Speaking on the states, which are indebted to WAEC, she said: “We took the interest of the students into consideration and after our deliberation with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, they assured me that all necessary steps would be taken to make sure we are paid; so, we decided to release the results.
We have received payments from 30 per cent of the states owing us and promissory notes from some others to redeem within few months.