WAEC clarifies resit exams: Not a new development for Nigerian candidates

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The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has clarified that the resit examination, recently highlighted on a Ghanaian TV program, is not a new initiative for candidates in Nigeria.

News Round The Clock earlier reported that John Kapi, the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, who, during an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show in Ghana on December 31, disclosed that WAEC had introduced resit examinations.

While speaking to journalists on Monday, Dr. Amos Dangut, the Head of the Nigeria Office at WAEC, explained that Nigerian candidates have had the opportunity to retake exams through private candidate options for over six years.

He noted that students who fail to pass all required subjects during their formal schooling do not need to retake the entire examination. Instead, they can opt for private candidate exams to resit only the subjects they did not pass.

“As for the recent buzz about a resit option in February, this is not a new concept but rather an extension of the existing structure of private candidate exams,” Dangut explained. “If a candidate has completed formal schooling and failed a subject or two, they are expected to sit for the private candidate exams. This could be perceived as a ‘resit’ for those who have already taken the school exams but need to remedy their results.”

Dangut said that this system has long been part of WAEC’s framework in Nigeria.

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“In Nigeria, this resit option has been an essential part of the journey to obtaining a WAEC certification,” he added.

He further noted that the development in Ghana reflects a response to the growing demand for more flexible opportunities for students to improve their results.

“It’s important to note that while the option exists for private candidates, the rules differ for those who take the school candidate exams. After completing formal schooling, candidates cannot retake the entire exam if they fail a subject. Instead, they must take the private candidate exam to remedy the deficiency,” Dangut said.