The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative that allows students to retake their West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) as early as January and February 2025. This marks a significant shift from the previous system, where candidates had to wait until the next private exam session to improve their results.
In a statement released by the Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, WAEC announced that the new programme, named WASSCE PC1, provides students a quicker pathway to enhance their grades and avoid prolonged delays in their academic progression.
“Students who access their WAEC results now and realise they need to resit one or two papers have until 8th January to register online through our website or at WAEC-accredited internet cafés,” Kapi said. He confirmed that the exams will take place from 24th January to 15th February 2025.
To further support candidates, WAEC plans to fast-track the release of chief examiners’ reports, offering detailed feedback on common mistakes and strategies for improvement. The council has also initiated widespread publicity for the programme through banners, its website, and its results checker platform to ensure that students and parents are well-informed.
Students whose results were canceled for reasons other than malpractice bans are also eligible to participate in the WASSCE PC1 exams. For now, the exams will be conducted in regional capitals due to the limited number of candidates, with registration closing on 8th January 2025.
Felix Oluwaseun Agbesanwa, Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), lauded the move as a step in the right direction. “This initiative allows students to focus on specific papers they failed, giving them a chance to improve their results and qualify for higher education without delay,” Agbesanwa said.
However, he suggested extending the registration deadline to the end of January to accommodate more students. He also expressed hope that this new system would encourage students to take their academics more seriously and reduce examination malpractices.
Agbesanwa emphasized that students should not view this opportunity as a reason to slack off but rather as an incentive to work harder. He also urged WAEC to maintain transparency in implementing the policy to ensure it achieves its intended purpose.
WAEC remains optimistic that the WASSCE PC1 programme will help students avoid a year-long academic setback, improve their grades, and seamlessly transition into the next admission cycle.
