West African Examinations Council

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is an examination board that conducts the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, for University and Jamb entry examination in West African countries. Established in 1952, the council has contributed to education in Anglophonic nations of West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Gambia), 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, via lectures, and aid to those who cannot afford education.

Dr. Adeyegbe, former HNO of WAEC Nigeria (2004) stated "the council has developed a group of well-educated and extremely motivated employees, and has administered Examinations that are valid and relevant to the educational aspirations of member countries". In a year, over 3 million candidates registered for the exams coordinated by WAEC. The council also assists other examination bodies (each nearby and international) in coordinating Examinations.

The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, University of London School Examinations Matriculation Council and West African Departments of Education met in 1948, regarding education in West Africa. The meeting was called to talk about 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 go to some West African countries, so as to see the general education level and specifications in West Africa. At the end of Jeffery's three month go to (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 nations, and they agreed on establishing a West African Examination council, totally 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 person nations by the West African Examination Council. Liberia later issued their ordinance in 1974, at the annual meeting held in Lagos, Nigeria. After the achievement of forming an examination council, the council called a first meeting in Accra, Ghana on March 1953. In the meeting, the registrar briefed everyone about the progress of the council. In that exact 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 Industrial Examinations Committee, and the Local Committee. The total number of people present for this meeting was 26.

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