28th January, 2015
The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, now known as Cambridge Assessment, has confirmed that African language papers, including Hausa, were offered for the West African School Certificate Examination in the Northern Region in 1961.
The UK examination body, in a statement on its website dated 23 January, also said that the number of candidates who sat for the WASSC Hausa examination in 1961 was 152.
The PDP campaign team and the party’s cyber warriors have been attacking Major General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress over his school certificate result.
Despite the release of the result by the principal of the Katsina Government College, Buhari’s old school, the PDP kept saying the result was fake.
Here is the full statement issued by the examining body. It is titled: Statement in response to Nigerian presidential election enquiries.
“The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), now known as Cambridge Assessment, in response to requests to authenticate a candidate’s exam certificate, today said: “We can only confirm or verify results at the direct request of or with the permission of a candidate.”
“This is in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.”
“The organisation also confirmed that according to the Regulations for 1961, African Language papers, including those for Hausa were set for the West African School Certificate.
“Examination results were classed in grades by 1 to 9. 1,2,3,4,5 & 6 indicate a Pass with Credit; 7 & 8 indicate a Pass; 9 indicates a Failure.
“To pass the School Certificate, candidates had to pass examinations in a variety of groups. It was compulsory to pass English Language, but not Maths, in order to gain the Certificate.
“The number of candidates who sat for the WASC Hausa examination in 1961 was 152. Our records show that Hausa was set in the Northern Region in 1961.”
Here is the link to the site: http://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/news/statement-in-response-to-nigerian-presidential-election-enquiries/