WAEC Release the results of candidates of debtor states

Regardless of WAEC’s decision to release the results of candidates of debtor states, there is need for the examination body to name – and really shame – the affected states to act as a deterrent to others, writes Vincent Obia.

On Thursday, the West African Examinations Council released the May/June 2015 West African Senior School Certificate Examination results of candidates from debtor states, in a sudden U-turn WAEC said it made to head off any obstructions to the academic ambitions of the candidates. Head of WAEC’s National Office, Mr. Charles Eguridu, said the council decided to release the results due to appeals from stakeholders, including parents, the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and notable Nigerians.
WAEC’s decision to listen to the appeals and release the results so as not to jeopardise the academic and career prospects of the candidates of the affected states is commendable. But the reversal does not detract from the need to publicise the debtor states, which had decided to lay on the line the future of their youth. WAEC owes it to the country to release the names of these states, if anything, to see whether the affected state governments and others of that ilk can take any lessons from the embarrassment incidental to such negative publicity.

SOURCE: THIS DAY