Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed deep concern over the recent drop in performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). On August 12, 2024, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) released the results, showing a troubling 7.69% decrease in the performance of candidates compared to the previous year.
According to WAEC’s Head of Nigeria Organisation, Amos Dangut, the 2024 WASSCE results indicate that out of 1,805,216 students who took the exam, 1,332,089 achieved credits in at least five subjects, including Mathematics or English. However, only 1,301,949 students secured credits in five subjects including both Mathematics and English, which represents 72.9% of the total candidates. This figure is a significant decline from last year’s 79.81%. Additionally, 215,267 results were withheld due to examination malpractice, representing 11.92% of all candidates.
In response to these results, Peter Obi released a statement on August 19 via X, emphasizing that the decline highlights the urgent need for increased investment in essential sectors such as education, health, and poverty alleviation. Obi pointed out that the percentage of candidates obtaining credits in five subjects, including English and Mathematics, fell to 72.12% this year from 79.81% last year. He stressed that this decrease is a clear indicator of Nigeria’s inadequate investment in education.
Obi also criticized Nigeria’s current literacy rate, which despite official claims of over 50%, places the country at a low 187th on the global literacy scale. He argued that this poor performance is a result of insufficient commitment to improving the education sector. Obi highlighted the low allocation of funds to education, noting that the total capital expenditure for the sector, including the Universal Basic Education Commission, was only N330.3 billion. He deemed this amount insufficient for a country with approximately 81,520 primary schools and 23,550 secondary schools.
Drawing from his tenure as governor, Obi praised the improvements made in Anambra State’s education system under his administration, which he believes transformed and continues to benefit the state’s educational landscape. He also congratulated the students who performed well in the 2024 WASSCE, acknowledging their hard work and dedication. Additionally, Obi extended his gratitude to the schools, teachers, and staff for their contributions to educational advancement and societal development.
