The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has recently announced a significant update regarding the schedule for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates. This update, confirmed by the Ghana Education Service (GES), brings a shift in the examination dates, impacting the preparation timeline for students across Ghana.
Initially slated to commence from July 1 to August 31, 2024, the WASSCE-SC will now be written from August 5 to September 27. This decision was communicated through a circular dated March 12, signed by Prince C. Agyemang-Duah, the acting Director of the Schools and Instructions Division of the GES.
While the circular did not specify the reason for this adjustment, sources suggest it aims to afford candidates ample time to adequately prepare for the examination. The GES urged regional directors of education to disseminate this information to all heads of senior high schools (SHSs) to ensure readiness among candidates.
John Kapi, the Head of Public Affairs of WAEC, confirmed the revision of the WASSCE-SC dates. He highlighted that Ghana would proceed with the Ghana Only Version of the examination, marking the third consecutive year Ghanaian candidates will undertake the examination independently. This decision follows the return of other member countries—Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia—to the May/June examination calendar post-COVID-19 pandemic.
Contrary to misconceptions, Kapi emphasized that the Ghana Only Version maintains the same rigorous standards and procedures observed across all WAEC member countries. The examination process, marking schemes, and grading criteria remain consistent. Additionally, Kapi assured that despite the shift in dates, WAEC is committed to releasing results on time to facilitate timely admissions into tertiary institutions.
Regarding registration, Kapi noted that the portal opened on March 11 and will close on April 19, 2024, allowing candidates to enroll for the upcoming examination.
Source: GESHub.org
