West African Examinations Council

History of West African Examinations Council

West African Examinations Council popularly called WAEC is an examination body that is responsible for the conduct of Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination in Nigeria and other member West Africa countries.

This examination body was established was established in 1952 after the Governments of Ghana (then Gold Coast), Nigeria, Sierra Leone and The Gambia enacted the West African Examinations Council Ordinances in 1951.
Among the aims and objectives of the body are to:

• Assist in the development of sound education
• Ensure that educational standards are maintained
• Give the people of West Africa a vision of the great potentials which lie beyond examinations.

 In the word of the former HNO of WAEC. dr Adeyegbe:

"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".

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.

Among other things they agreed on was the coordination of exams, and issuing of certificates to students in individual countries by the West African Examination Council.

After the success formation of the 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

RELATED POSTS

Profile of West African Examination Council
How to Purchase Waec Result Checker Online