The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has launched a new resit initiative, WASSCE PC1, enabling students to retake failed papers as early as January and February.
This marks a significant shift from the previous system, where candidates had to wait for the next private exam cycle.
Registration for the programme closes on 8th January 2025, and candidates can register online via the WAEC website or at accredited internet cafés.
The resit exams will be conducted between 24th January and 15th February 2025. To support candidates in their preparation, WAEC plans to release chief examiners’ reports that will provide insights into common mistakes and effective strategies for improvement.
The initiative has received positive feedback from education stakeholders. Felix Oluwaseun Agbesanwa, Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Ogun State chapter, described it as a “step in the right direction.”
He highlighted that the programme allows students to focus on specific failed papers, offering an efficient pathway to improve their results.
Agbesanwa, however, suggested extending the registration deadline to the end of January to give students ample time to prepare. He also recommended that WAEC integrate the results of passed resits into candidates’ overall scores as a single sitting, to benefit students seeking admission to higher institutions.
The initiative is expected to ease academic pressure on students, allowing them to address weaknesses without retaking all subjects.
Additionally, it aligns with university admission timelines, enabling candidates to use their updated results for applications. Stakeholders also believe that the programme could reduce examination malpractice by discouraging dishonest practices with a quicker resit option.
Despite its benefits, education experts caution against over-reliance on the resit opportunity. Agbesanwa urged students to remain serious about their academics and avoid repeated failures, stressing that the resit should not be seen as an excuse for complacency.
The programme is expected to be affordable, ensuring accessibility for most candidates. Stakeholders have called on WAEC to ensure transparency and fairness in its implementation to achieve its intended goals.
This new initiative reflects WAEC’s commitment to addressing systemic challenges in the education sector and prioritizing the needs of students. Its impact will become clearer after the first resit cycle concludes in February.