Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has voiced concern over the recent drop in the performance of candidates who sat for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Nigeria. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) reported a 7.69% decline in the success rate compared to the previous year.
On August 12, WAEC announced the release of the 2024 WASSCE results, with Amos Dangut, the Head of Nigeria’s WAEC Office, confirming the successful conclusion of his first examination tenure. According to Dangut, of the 1,805,216 students who registered for the exam, 1,301,949 candidates (72.9%) earned credits in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. However, this figure represents a noticeable decrease from the 79.81% success rate recorded in 2023.
Furthermore, 215,267 results were withheld due to examination malpractice, accounting for 11.92% of the total number of candidates—a worrying trend that adds to the overall decline in performance.
In response to these figures, Peter Obi took to social media on August 19 to express his disappointment, stating that the decline in WASSCE performance serves as a stark reminder of Nigeria’s insufficient investment in key sectors such as education, health, and poverty alleviation. Obi emphasized that the drop in educational performance requires urgent intervention from the government.
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Obi pointed to Nigeria’s low ranking on the global literacy scale—187th, despite a literacy rate reported to be over 50%—as evidence of the nation’s inadequate commitment to education. He criticized the current funding allocated to the education sector, highlighting that the total capital expenditure for education, including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), was a mere N330.3 billion. Obi argued that this amount is insufficient for a country with over 81,520 primary schools and 23,550 secondary schools.
Reflecting on his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, Obi recounted how targeted investments in education significantly improved the state’s educational outcomes, a legacy that continues to benefit the region today. He called for similar aggressive investment strategies at the national level to reverse the current downward trend in educational performance.
Obi also took the opportunity to commend the students who excelled in the 2024 WASSCE, praising their hard work and dedication. He extended his gratitude to the schools, teachers, and administrative staff for their crucial role in shaping the educational landscape and contributing to the broader development of society.
