WAEC Apologizes for Conducting WASSCE at Night Amid Public Backlash
Introduction
On Wednesday, students in various South-West states of Nigeria, including Lagos, Osun, Ogun, and Oyo, wrote the 2025 WASSCE English Language paper hours later than scheduled, with some finishing as late as 9 p.m.
Although the WAEC timetable indicated the paper should be completed by mid-afternoon, students were seen writing under flashlights, as captured in viral videos. Public outrage followed, and Nigerians took to social media to condemn WAEC for what many have described as “an embarrassing failure of coordination and planning.”
In response, WAEC apologised, blaming the delay on efforts to prevent exam paper leakage, alongside logistical and security challenges.
Effect of the Delay on Candidates and Parents
When examinations are shifted, students bear the brunt. These students are made to wait long hours, and many get fatigued, physically and mentally exhausted, and even hungry. And by the time the exam starts, they may not perform well due to tiredness.
Writing an exam with poor lighting is outrageous. It strains the eyes and, ultimately, leads to poor eyesight.
Also, these are children who left their homes in the morning and will be hungry by that time. How do they perform well under these circumstances?
This disruption has exposed the students, who are mostly children to danger as they will have to travel back to their homes that night.. With the rate of insecurity in the country, who guarantees their safety?
Also, many parents who sent their children to school since morning will be worried.
What Does This Say about WAEC?
WAEC has been in operation for a long time. It is expected that by 2025, they will have mastered every aspect and other foreseeable issues like logistics that could crop up during the conduct of the exam and prevent it.
The poor conduct of the 2025 WASSCE shows their unpreparedness and ‘business as usual’ manner in handling the examination of this magnitude, which determines students’ future and admission into the university.
A similar incident took place at Delta State in this same examination. It would have been expected that the Delta incident would have been a lesson to make adjustments. With other exams not yet written, what other ‘insane’ surprises are we in for?
The exam body’s failure to ensure a timely examination reflects a troubling disregard for the physical and mental well-being of candidates, undermines public confidence in its operations, and jeopardizes the safety of the candidates, who are mostly children.
Conclusion
This incident is a clear failure of institutional responsibility. WAEC’s attempt to protect exam integrity came at the unacceptable cost of student welfare and public trust. The exam body should urgently address the challenges with planning and logistics.
An apology is never enough; let it not happen again.
