The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says results of 215,149 candidates are being withheld over alleged various forms of examination malpractices.

WAEC’s Head of National Office Patrick Areghan made this known at a news conference on Monday in Lagos.

According to him, a total of 1,549,740 candidates, registered for the examination from 19,129 recognised secondary schools in the country.

Mr. Areghan said the withheld results were being investigated, adding that reports of the investigations would be presented to the appropriate committee of the council for determination in due course.

“The committee’s decisions will be communicated to the affected candidates through their schools,’’ Mr. Areghan said.

He added that of the figure that sat for the examination, 1, 338, 348 candidates, representing 86.99 per cent, obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, that is, with or without English Language and, or Mathematics.

“Also, of the figure that write the examination, 1, 003, 668, representing 65. 24 per cent obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics,’’ Mr. Areghan said.

The WAEC chief said that there was an improvement in the result of the candidates, in spite of the challenges that characterised the writing of the examination.

Attributing the achievements to improved facilities and e-learning, he said that candidates who had fulfilled their financial obligation to the council could access their performance on the website.

Mr. Areghan said that the examination was also administered to candidates from some schools in Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, where the country’s curriculum for Senior Secondary Schools were being used.