Peter Obi condemns declining WASSCE performance, urges greater investment in education

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has voiced his deep concerns regarding the alarming decline in the performance of Nigerian students in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) recently reported a significant 7.69 percent drop in candidates’ performance, a development that Obi believes highlights the urgent need for increased investment in the education sector.

The results, released on August 12, revealed that out of 1,805,216 candidates who sat for the examination, only 1,332,089 achieved credits in five subjects, including Mathematics or English. A further breakdown showed that 1,301,949 candidates secured credits in both Mathematics and English, representing a total pass rate of 72.9%. However, this performance marks a stark decline from last year’s 79.81%, raising critical questions about the state of education in Nigeria.

WAEC Head of Nigeria Organisation, Amos Dangut, confirmed that the exam was the first conducted under his leadership, labeling it a success despite the concerning figures. He also disclosed that 215,267 results were withheld due to examination malpractice, accounting for 11.92% of the total candidates.

In a statement released on August 19 via social media platform X, Obi described the performance decline as a “stark reminder” of the insufficient investment in vital areas including education, health, and poverty alleviation. He emphasized that a country’s future hinges on the quality of its education, lamenting Nigeria’s low literacy rate, which, despite claims of being over 50%, places the nation at a dismal 187th on the global literacy scale.

Obi criticized the current budget allocations for education, pointing out that the total capital expenditure for the sector, including funding for the Universal Basic Education Commission, stands at a mere N330.3 billion. He argued that this amount is woefully inadequate for a country with over 81,520 primary schools and 23,550 secondary schools.

“Our investment in education, as with other critical areas, remains poor,” Obi declared, underscoring the need for immediate and substantial financial commitment to educational development.

Reflecting on the positive changes made during his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, Obi noted that aggressive investment in education led to significant improvements that continue to benefit the state today. “The aggressive investment in education we made in Anambra State greatly transformed education in the State, and still bears fruits to this day,” he stated.

In light of the disappointing results, Obi took a moment to commend the students who participated in the 2024 WASSCE, particularly those who excelled. “I applaud their efforts, hard work, and dedication to their studies, which paid off,” he expressed, while also recognizing the vital contributions of schools, management, staff, and teachers in fostering educational growth and societal development.

Obi’s passionate call for enhanced educational investment serves as a timely reminder of the need for collective action to address the challenges facing Nigeria’s educational landscape.