West African Examination Council - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is a not-for-profit examination board

Examination board

An examination board is an organisation that sets examinations and is responsible for marking them and distributing results. Examination boards have the power to award qualifications, such as SAT scores, to students...

formed out of the concern for education

Education

Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...

in Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

. Established in 1952, the council has contributed to education in Anglophonic countries of West Africa

West Africa

West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...

(Ghana

Ghana

Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...

, Liberia

Liberia

Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...

, Nigeria

Nigeria

Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...

, Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...

, and the Gambia

The Gambia

The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....

), with the number of examinations they have coordinated, and certificates they have issued. They also formed an endowment fund, to contribute to the education in West Africa, through lectures, and aid to those who cannot afford education.

Dr. Adeyegbe, HNO of WAEC Nigeria (2004) said "the council has developed a team of well-trained and highly motivated staff, and has administered Examinations that are valid and relevant to the educational aspirations of member countries". In a year, over three million candidates registered for the exams coordinated by WAEC. The council also helps other examination bodies (both local and international) in coordinating Examinations.

History

The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, University of London School Examinations Matriculation Council and West African Departments of Education met in 1948, concerning education

Education

in West Africa

West Africa

.
The meeting was called to discuss the future policy of education

Education

in West Africa

West Africa

. At the meeting, they appointed Dr. G. B Jeffrey

George Barker Jeffery

George Barker Jeffery was a leading mathematical physicist in the early twentieth century. He is probably best known to the scientifically literate public as the translator of papers by Einstein, Lorentz, and other fathers of relativity theory .-Career:Jeffery was born in 1891 and educated at...

(Director of the University Of London Institute Of Education) to visit some West African countries, so as to see the general education

Education

level and requirements in West Africa

West Africa

. At the end of Dr Jeffery's

George Barker Jeffery

three month visit (December 1949- March 1950) to Ghana, the Gambia, Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

, and Nigeia

Nigeria

, he tendered a report (since known as Jeffery report) strongly supporting the need for a West African Examination Council, and making detailed recommendations on the composition and duties of the Council. Following this report, the groups met with the governments of these countries, and they agreed on establishing a West African Examination council, fully adopting Dr. Jeffery's

George Barker Jeffery

recommendations.

The Establishment of the Council

The legislative assemblies of Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

, and the Gambia passed an ordinance

Law

Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...

(West African Examinations Council Ordinance NO. 40) approving the West African Examination Council in Dec 1951. The Ordinance

Law

agreed to the coordination of exams, and issuing of certificates to students in individual countries by the West African Examination Council. Liberia later issued their ordinance

Law

in 1974, at the annual meeting held in Lagos

Lagos

Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...

, Nigeria. After the success of forming an examination council, the council called a first meeting in Accra

Accra

Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...

, Ghana on March 1953. In the meeting, the registrar briefed everybody about the progress of the council. In that same meeting, five committees were formed to assist the council. These committees are: Administrative and Finance Committee, School Examinations Committee, Public Service Examinations Committee, The Professional, Technical and Commercial Examinations Committee, and the Local Committee. The total number of people present for this meeting was 26.

Attendance of first meeting

Below is the list of people that were present during the first meeting held by the West African Examination Council.

Mr. A. N Galsworthy (Chairman of the Council)
Dr. G. B. Jeffery
George Barker Jeffery
George Barker Jeffery was a leading mathematical physicist in the early twentieth century. He is probably best known to the scientifically literate public as the translator of papers by Einstein, Lorentz, and other fathers of relativity theory .-Career:Jeffery was born in 1891 and educated at...

(Chief Secretary of the West African Inter-Territorial Secretariat)
Mr. J. L. Brereton (Secretary of the Cambridge Syndicate)
13 members nominated by the governments of Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...

, and the Gambia.
10 Observers

50th birthday celebration

On March 2002, the Council celebrated their 50th anniversary in Abuja

Abuja

Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...

, Nigeria. The theme of the Anniversary was "WAEC: 50 years of Excellence". All member countries joined in the celebration in their respective countries, apart from the general celebration in Abuja

Abuja

, Nigeria. During this anniversary the book, "The West African Examinations Council (1952-2002): Half a century of Commitment to Excellence and Regional Cooperation", was launched.

Structure of the Council

The West African Examination Council is notable to have a strong committee. The structure of the council is divided into three major parts: International committees, National Committees, and Subcommittees.

The International Committee treat matters affecting all member countries and also harmonizes national views pertaining to policies of the council as a whole. The National committees handle matters relating to specific member countries. It also assist in the articulation of national views on issues affecting the policy of the council as a whole. The Sub committees work on various aspects of the Council’s activities. The Finance committee for example is in charge of WAEC’s financial status. There are many sub committees, and they assist both the International and National committees.

Examinations conducted

The council conducts four different categories of examinations. They are International

International

----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...

Examinations, National Examinations, Examinationsconducted in collaboration with other examining bodies, and Examination conducted on behalf of other examining bodies. The International

International

exams are exams taken in the five countries with the WAEC ordinance. It consists of:

WASSCE
WASSCE
The West African Senior School Certificate Examination is a type of standardized test in West Africa. It is administered by the West African Examinations Council...

(West African Senior School Certificate Examination):
SC/GCE O’ levels
GCE 'O' Level
The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Examination is an annual examination conducted in Singapore...

, and
HSC/GCE A’ levels.

The National examinations are taken in individual countries. They include:

the Junior Secondary School Certificate for Nigeria and the Gambia,
Junior and Senior High School Certificate Examinations for Liberia,
National Primary School and Basic Education Certificate Examinations for Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...

,
Basic Education Certificate Examinations for Ghana, and
Senior School Certificate Examinations for Ghana.

The council also coordinates examination in collaboration with some trustworthy examination bodies. This includes:

City and Guilds of London Institute]
Royal Society of Arts

The council also conducts examination in West Africa on behalf of international examination bodies. This includes

University of London GCE
Scholastic Aptitude Test and Graduate Record Examinations for Educational Testing Service, Princeton, USA, and
JAMB
Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board
The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board is Nigeria's official entrance examination board for tertiary-level institutions. The examinations being administered are available for most students who choose to apply to Nigerian public and private monotechnics, polytechnics, and universities...

(Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board) examination in countries outside Nigeria.

The council issues credible and reliable certificates to candidates that participate in the Examinations. And the standard of this certificates matches with that of the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

. This is because the WAEC Ordinance

Law

empowered the council to conduct Examinations and award certificates, provided the certificates don’t have a lower standard compared to their equivalent certificates of examining authorities in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The Endowment Fund

A major achievement of the council, apart from several examinations it has conducted is the establishment of the Endowment Fund. The council created the Endowment fund in Monrovia

Monrovia

Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...

, Liberia in 1982.. It was established for two main reasons: to promote educational projects , and to give annual lectures.

So far, the educational projects have been on

buying books for the less privilege. Like Mr. Saaka (2006) said "the decision to donate books was due to the poor performance of students." , and
awarding students who perform excellently in their examinations.

WAEC awarded seven students that performed excellently in their 2004 SSCE. According to the report, the award was in two categories: distinction and excellence category, and the amounts ranged from $250–$550 along sides with certificates of honor. This aspect of the project is meant to bring in competitions among students, in other to improve education.

Lectures given

The Endowment fund started giving lectures on March 1996. Below are the lectures and the names of the speakers.

1996 - "The Role of WAEC in the Promotion of Democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...

, Sustainable Development and International Cooperation in West Africa" by Prof. E.A. Boateng of Ghana.
1997 - "The Dual Mandate: Teaching and Examining" by Prof. Eldred Jones of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...

.
1998 - "Not in Our Stars" by Prof. V. Chukwuemeka Ike of Nigeria.
1999 - "And Miles to Go Before I Sleep" by Dr. Lenrie Peters of the Gambia.
2000 - "Encourage the Best, Support the Rest" by Mr. Moore T. Worrel of Liberia.
2001 - "The Language Factor in Education- Teaching, Learning and Examining" by Prof. Florence A. Dolphyne of Ghana.
2002 - "Education for National Redemption" by Prof. J. A. Ayoade of Nigeria.
2003 - "The Role and Relevance of the West African Examinations Council within the Context of the Realities and Challenges of our Times" by Dr. M. B. Joof of the Gambia.
2004 - "Developing and Strengthening a Sustainable Modern Science and Technology Human Resource Base and Culture in West Africa" by Prof. Ernest H. M. Wright.
2005 - "Taking Stock of the Remnants after the Years of the Locust" by Monsignor Dr. Robert G. Tikpor
2006 - "Quality Assurance in Public Examinations" by Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah
2007 - "The Teacher in Leadership" by Prof. I.E.Nwana
2008 - "Enhanced Agricultural Education: An Inevitable Necessity for our Survival" by Rt. Rev. Dr.S. Tilewa Johnson
2009 - "Globalization and the Challenges for Education in a Post-Conflict Situation: A Sierra Leone Perspective" by Prof. Abdullah A. Mansaray

Mission of the council

Generally, the council have several missions, most of which is to maintain the standard they have achieved. The Missions of the West African Examination Council are:

To maintain internationally accepted procedures
To keep providing qualitative and reliable educational assessment
To keep encouraging Students in getting academic excellence
To keep promoting sustainable human resources development, mutual understanding and international cooperation.

Heads of Office

The Gambia: Mr. E. M. S. Njie, B.Sc., Ed; M.Ed (Eval.) Ag. Head of National Office.
Liberia: Mr. E.M. Lumei, B.Sc., M.Sc., M.A. Head of National Office.
Ghana: Rev. J.A. Adotey, B.Sc. Head of National Office.
Nigeria: Dr. I.J.Uwadiae, Ph.D. Head of National Office
Sierra Leone: Mr. V.A.V. James, B.A. (Ed), M.Ed. Head of National Office.

External links

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