The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has assured that it is diligently working to release the pending results for candidates who participated in the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). This announcement follows concerns raised by students, parents, and guardians over the delay in the release of some examination results.
According to a statement released by WAEC, the results of 33 school candidates and three private candidates have been withheld for further investigation. Additionally, some subject results from candidates in 149 schools are currently under review due to reported irregularities during the examination process. These irregularities include both administrative errors by supervisors and failure to adhere to examination instructions by candidates.
John Kapi, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, spoke about the current situation, emphasizing the need for calm and patience as the council continues the processing and investigation of the affected results. He acknowledged the frustrations felt by both the candidates and their families but assured that the council is making every effort to address the issues.
Kapi explained that the withholding of the results stems from several mistakes that occurred during the examination process. “The pending is a result of some mistakes made by our supervisors and the candidates who did not follow instructions. So you would have, for example, maybe your music script is found where the music examiner has marked the music bit, but then the design bit of it cannot be marked by the same examiner,” Kapi said. This example highlights the procedural errors that can complicate the assessment process, leading to delays in releasing complete and accurate results.
He further reiterated that while WAEC understands the concerns of parents and guardians, the council is working around the clock to ensure that the results are processed correctly and released as soon as possible. “We want to appeal to parents and guardians to exercise restraint because certainly we had our people working throughout the night and hopefully we would have those results released,” Kapi added. His statement reflects WAEC’s commitment to resolving the issues and releasing the pending results as soon as the necessary reviews are completed.
The review process, according to WAEC, involves thorough investigations into the irregularities reported during the examination. This includes examining cases of possible malpractices, administrative errors, and instances where candidates’ responses were mismanaged during the marking process. WAEC has stressed that the integrity of the examination results must be maintained, and it is for this reason that some results have been withheld for further scrutiny.
As part of the process, WAEC is also working to improve communication with schools, candidates, and parents to keep them informed about the progress of the results release. Candidates whose results have been affected by the delays have been advised to remain calm, as WAEC has made it clear that all necessary efforts are being made to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. This assurance is critical, especially for candidates who are awaiting their BECE results to make decisions regarding their next steps in education, such as applying for senior high school.
The BECE is a significant examination in the educational journey of students in Ghana, as it serves as the main assessment for entry into senior high schools and technical institutes. As such, any delays in the release of results can cause anxiety and uncertainty for students and their families. WAEC’s ongoing communication efforts aim to ease these concerns, ensuring that candidates and their families are kept updated on the situation and what to expect moving forward.
In previous years, WAEC has dealt with similar issues regarding withheld results due to irregularities or errors during the examination process. The council has consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards and ensuring that every candidate’s performance is accurately reflected in their results. The current situation, involving the 2024 BECE, is no different, and WAEC remains committed to ensuring fairness and transparency in the release of the final results.
Despite the challenges, WAEC has reassured the public that the vast majority of results have already been processed and released without issues. The remaining pending results represent a small percentage of the overall candidate pool, and WAEC is confident that these issues will be resolved soon. Once the investigations and reviews are completed, the council will release the withheld results and communicate directly with the affected candidates and their schools.
As the situation unfolds, WAEC has encouraged schools, candidates, and parents to maintain open lines of communication with the council and to seek clarification if they have any concerns about the status of their results. The council has also reminded candidates of the importance of following examination instructions and protocols to avoid such delays in the future.
In the meantime, the candidates whose results are pending are advised to remain patient and optimistic. WAEC’s dedication to resolving the issues and ensuring a fair outcome for all involved is a reflection of its long-standing commitment to upholding the integrity of Ghana’s examination system. With the council’s efforts underway, it is expected that the pending BECE results will be released in the coming days, bringing much-needed relief to the affected students and their families.
