Obi laments poor WASSCE results and urges more funding for education
Peter Obi, the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate and a former governor of Anambra State, has expressed concern over the West African Examinations Council's recent announcement that candidates for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in Nigeria performed 7.69 percent worse than expected.
The results of the 2024 WASSCE were to be released, WAEC stated on Monday, August 12.
The exam, which was the first administered under his term, was deemed successful by WAEC's Head of the Nigeria Organisation, Amos Dangut.
"WAEC is publishing its results today. Of the 1,805, 216 applicants who took the exam, 1,332, 089 have credits in five courses, including any topics that include the languages of English or mathematics, and 1,301, 949 candidates got credits in five subjects including Mathematics and English language accounting for 72.9% of total candidates.
"Compared to the previous year of the 2023 WASSCE, there has been a 7.6% decline in examination performance. In addition, 215, 267 results were suppressed as a result of candidates abusing the examination. This represents 11.92% of all candidates who took the test, according to Dangut.
Obi stated in a statement released on Monday, August 19, via X, that the decrease serves as a sobering reminder of the nation's inadequate funding for vital sectors including poverty reduction, health care, and education.
"Compared to last year's 79.81 percent, WAEC said the percentage of candidates who obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics this year is 72.12 percent," the speaker said, citing the WAEC report.
The outgoing governor underlined how important this drop in educational performance, alongside other key sectors, demands immediate attention and action.
He cited Nigeria as having a literacy rate that, although reported to be above 50%, nonetheless places the nation at 187 in the world. It "reflects a visible lack of commitment to education in the country," he said.
Obi also questioned the funding for the education sector, pointing out that just N330.3 billion had been spent on major projects for the whole education system, including the Universal Basic Education Commission.
With roughly 81,520 primary schools and 23,550 secondary schools in the nation, he contended that this quantity is egregiously insufficient.
He then on, "Like with other important areas, our investment in education remains poor."
Drawing on his tenure as Anambra State's governor, Obi mentioned the advancements his government brought about in the state's educational system.
He declared, "The significant transformation of education in Anambra State that we achieved through our aggressive investment in education continues to yield benefits today."
Obi commended the pupils who took the 2024 WASSCE exam even more, especially the ones who did well.
He praised their efforts, saying that their diligence and commitment to their studies had paid off.
He also expressed gratitude to the administration, personnel, teachers, and schools for their essential roles in advancing education and the general well-being of society.
