West African Examinations Council

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 in West Africa. The meeting was called to discuss the future policy of education in West Africa. At the meeting, they appointed Dr. George Barker Jeffery (Director of the University Of London Institute Of Education) to visit some West African countries, so as to see the general education level and requirements in West Africa. At the end of Jeffery's three month visit (December 1949- March 1950) to Ghana, the Gambia, Sierra Leone, and 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 Jeffery's recommendations.

The Establishment of the Council

The legislative assemblies of Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia passed an ordinance (West African Examinations Council Ordinance NO. 40) approving the West African Examination Council in Dec 1951. The Ordinance 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 in 1974, at the annual meeting held in Lagos, Nigeria. After the success of forming an examination council, the council called a first meeting in Accra, 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 who were present during the first meeting held by the West African Examination Council.

1. Mr. A. N Galsworthy (Chairman of the Council)
2. George Barker Jeffery (Chief Secretary of the West African Inter-Territorial Secretariat)
3. Mr. J. L. Brereton (Secretary of the Cambridge Syndicate)
4. 13 members nominated by the governments of Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia.
5. 10 Observers, one of whom was Constance Rulka, who would later become the Chief Examiner, and, appointed Assistant Registrar of the West African Examinations Council, and put in charge of examinations in English at all levels in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and the Gambia.

50th birthday celebration

On March 2002, the Council celebrated their 50th anniversary in Abuja, 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, 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 Examinations, National Examinations, Examinations conducted in collaboration with other examining bodies, and Examinations conducted on behalf of other examining bodies. The International exams are exams taken in the five countries with the WAEC ordinance. It consists of:

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

The council also coordinates examinations in collaboration with some trustworthy examination bodies. These include:

The council also conducts examination in West Africa on behalf of international examination bodies. These include:

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. This is because the WAEC Ordinance 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.

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, 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

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 alongside 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.

Vision of the Council

To be a world class examining body, adding value to the educational goals of its stakeholders.

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:

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

Heads of Office