WAEC website hacked ahead of 2023 WASSCE, BECE results release

The official website of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) https://www.waecgh.org has been hacked by anonymous cybercriminals after it announced the commencement of 2023 WASSCE and BECE script marking.

Checks by AcademicWeek indicate that the education-related content on the not-for-profit-making organization (WAEC) website homepage has been replaced with what could best be described as gambling content.

The Examinations Council’s official website was last hacked in the 2017 academic year after a statement purported by WAEC claimed that its official website had been compromised and fake BECE results published by some hackers.

“Our systems have been hacked and fake results have been posted to our servers. Our cyber security team is currently working on the problem,” the purported statement to have been issued by management of the Exams Council stated.

Meanwhile, the West African Examinations Council has slated Monday, October 9, 2023, to begin marking of 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) scripts of Junior High School students who sat for the national examination.

In a discussion with Daily Graphic, an official of the Examinations Council said his outfit has initiated the coordination process which involved bringing the examiners together to familiarise themselves with the marking scheme of the 2023 BECE.

Citing financial issues as a challenge confronting the marking process which formed part of the second process of the examination, he said “They will finish the coordination on Friday and by October 9, the actual marking will start.”

“So we have started the process, but what we are saying is that if monies are not released, we may not be able to complete it,” the Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi told the Daily Graphic newspaper in an exclusive interview.

A total of 600,714 candidates, comprising 300,323 boys and 300,391 girls from 18,993 Junior High Schools participated in the 2023 BECE for School Candidates which began on Monday, August 7, 2023, to Friday, August 11, 2023.

With regard to the 2023 BECE for Private Candidates, a total entry figure of 1,743 candidates was recorded. This is made up of 889 males and 854 females. This year’s figure is 5.4% higher than the entry figure of 1,132 for 2022.

The 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for School Candidates was held at 2,137 examination centres across the country, while 15 centres mainly in the regional capitals were used for the BECE for Private candidates.