The release of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results has brought little comfort to Nigerian students. Instead, it has revived memories of what many describe as the most chaotic examination season in recent years.
Prior to the examinations, WAEC’s Nigeria National Office had promised integrity and innovation. Head of the office, Dr Amos Josiah Dangut, announced new anti-malpractice measures, including variant question papers and optional computer-based testing for eligible schools. Nearly 1.97 million candidates from 23,554 schools, supervised by 26,000 teachers, were urged to make use of the council’s e-Study and Konnect platforms. The assurance was of a smooth and transparent exercise.
However, on May 28, those assurances collapsed. The English Language paper — crucial for gaining admission into higher institutions — was scheduled for 2 pm, but in several centres, did not start until evening. At Unity Modern School in Asaba, the power outage began around 6 pm. In some locations, candidates wrote late into the night, their scripts lit by handset torches and candles. By the time the first answers were written, many were already hungry, exhausted, and struggling to concentrate.
Lawmakers soon took notice. Following a motion by Rep Mary Ibikake from Bayelsa State, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies began a probe. Committee chairman, Rep Oboku Oforji, condemned WAEC’s handling as a “national embarrassment”, stressing the impact on the psychological and academic well-being of students. “Parents, students and Nigerians at large deserve answers,” he said, vowing to uncover both immediate and systemic failures to prevent a repeat.
In response, Dr Dangut apologised, admitting that logistical breakdowns were triggered by a last-minute question paper reprint after leaks were discovered. He revealed that WAEC’s internal printing press was operating at half capacity, forcing reliance on external vendors. Overnight distribution of replacement papers, he explained, delayed delivery to remote areas. He denied reports that candidates were abandoned in harsh conditions, saying alternative lighting was provided in coordination with schools and parents. WAEC, he added, had launched a full investigation and was restoring its printing capacity to 100%.
When the results were announced in August, the uproar deepened. Out of 1,969,313 candidates, only 38.32% obtained credits in at least five subjects, including English and Mathematics — a steep drop from 72.12% in 2024. Civil society groups, parents’ networks and education stakeholders linked the poor performance to the examination delays and conditions on the day.
On the Concerned Parents and Educators Network platform, one contributor, Adegoke Atoke, lamented that students had written 450-word essays under torchlight at 10:30 pm in the rain while swatting mosquitoes. Another, Abiodun Adeleke, called for a rewrite of the English paper, arguing that the circumstances fell far short of a standardised examination. A teacher in Lagos, Adebayo Ifeoluwa, questioned how such delays could occur when other centres kept to time. Adding to the controversy, WAEC withheld results from certain schools over alleged malpractice. This has raised questions about how such incidents could occur despite the council’s much-publicised anti-cheating measures.
Recently, WAEC issued a statement admitting to technical errors uncovered during an internal review, which it said may have contributed to the poor scores recorded by candidates. What many found ironic was the council’s admission that these errors were linked to technical glitches arising from new measures introduced to curb examination malpractice. For critics, the combination of logistical lapses, operational failures, and technical faults points to a deeper institutional problem — and has fuelled calls for the dismissal of WAEC’s top executives.
While it is commendable that the institution has acknowledged its mistakes and offered an apology, parents, teachers, and education advocates insist that words are not enough. Some are calling for a comprehensive audit of WAEC’s processes and leadership, arguing that an organisation tasked with assessing diligence and competence must uphold those same standards. They say the future of nearly two million young people should never again be jeopardised by such failings. WAEC, they add, must ensure its scoring system accurately reflects candidates’ performance. Analysts also urge a review of results for students who began their examinations late or under harsh conditions, with some arguing that, in cases of widespread failure linked to such circumstances, the affected papers should be rewritten.
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