The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says only 49.98 percent of the candidates who wrote its 2018 school certificate examination obtained credit passes and above.

Olu Adenipekun, the council’s head of national office, gave this information on Wednesday at a news conference to announce the 2018 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Lagos.

Adenipekun said a total of 1,578,846 registered for the examination in Nigeria, and out of the number, 1,572,396 of them sat for the examination.

He said 786,016 candidates, representing 49.98 percent who sat for the examination, obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects including English Language and Mathematics.

He said the performance, when compared to what was obtained in the same examination in 2016 and 2017, showed a decline.

“If we should compare the performance of candidates for this year’s examination under this category with that of 2016, which was 52.97 and in 2017; 59.22, we are safe to say it is fluctuating, just as it is declining.

“These statistics are clear for you to see and make your judgment,” he said.

Adenipekun said a total of 1,213,244 candidates obtained credits and above in a minimum of any five subjects, with or without English Language and or Mathematics.

He said 858,424 other candidates obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language but without Mathematics.

Adenipekun said out of the total number of candidates who wrote the examination, 1,470,338 of them had their results fully processed and released.

He said 102,058 other candidates had a few of their subjects still being processed, due to errors traceable to the candidates in the course of registration or while writing the examination.

The HNO said the candidates who have fulfilled their financial obligations to the council were free to check the details of their performance on the council’s result website.

NAN