EDU-CBT HUB

The mass failure in this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has been linked to significant logistical challenges, particularly concerning the English Language paper. These issues, a combination of security measures and systemic failures, created a chaotic environment that likely contributed to the poor performance.

---

Key Logistical Challenges

• Late-Night Examinations: In several states like Taraba and Ogun, the English Language paper was conducted late into the night. Videos circulated online showed students writing their exams using candles and torchlights due to a lack of electricity. This created a stressful and non-conducive environment for testing, affecting students’ ability to concentrate and perform well. 🌃
• Paper Leakage and Replacement: The primary cause of the delays was a reported leak of the English Language paper. To maintain the exam’s integrity, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) had to quickly reprint and redistribute new question papers. This emergency measure, while necessary to curb malpractice, caused a cascade of logistical problems.
• Transportation and Security Hurdles: The distribution of the replacement papers faced significant setbacks. Reports indicate that vehicles transporting exam materials broke down and were, in some cases, denied passage through certain communities. This compounded the delays, pushing the exam schedule far beyond its intended time.
• Technical Glitches: The logistical challenges extended beyond the physical conduct of the exam. The WAEC results portal experienced a temporary shutdown due to “technical issues” shortly after the results were released. This added to the frustration of candidates and the public, further fueling the outrage over the overall handling of the examination.

---

Impact of the Logistical Failures

The logistical issues had a profound impact on the examination’s outcome and the students involved. The late-night exam conditions, coupled with the pressure and lack of proper lighting, likely contributed to reduced concentration and fatigue, leading to poor performance.

The situation has sparked widespread public criticism and calls for an independent investigation. Parents and students have demanded a review of the English Language scripts, with some even calling for the paper to be canceled entirely. Education advocates have also voiced concerns about the mental health challenges and despair the unexpected failures have caused among students.

The logistical failures have highlighted systemic issues within Nigeria’s education system, including a lack of proper infrastructure and a general unpreparedness for the challenges of conducting a large-scale, nationwide examination. The incident serves as a stark warning as WAEC plans to transition to a fully Computer-Based Testing (CBT) system in the future.

For a deeper dive into the specific challenges WAEC faced, including their official apology, you can watch this video: WAEC Apologises For Night WASSCE, Blames Logistic

Recent update on WAEC

The results, recently released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), showed a sharp decline in performance, with only 38.32% of candidates achieving a minimum of five credits, including English Language and Mathematics. This is a significant drop of 33.8% compared to the 72.12% pass rate in 2024.

---

Key Takeaways from the 2025 WASSCE Results

The Head of the Nigeria National Office for WAEC, Dr. Amos Dangut, attributed the decline to the Council’s new anti-malpractice measures. These measures, such as the serialisation of objective test papers in core subjects like Mathematics and English, were designed to make cheating and collusion more difficult. While the performance on objective papers dipped, the results for essay papers remained consistent with previous years, suggesting that candidates who relied on their own preparation did not fare as poorly.

In addition to the anti-malpractice measures, other contributing factors have been identified by various stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and education experts.

• Inadequate School Infrastructure & Quality of Teaching: Many schools, particularly private ones, are said to employ unqualified teachers. There’s a general lack of essential learning tools like functional laboratories and libraries.
• Logistical Challenges: The examination faced logistical issues, including the late conduct of some papers. For instance, the English Language paper was written at night in some areas, forcing candidates to use candles and torch lights due to power outages, which likely affected their performance.
• Student Factors: There is a concern that many students lack the seriousness and dedication to study, instead relying on examination malpractice, which was largely thwarted this year. Social media and other distractions are also cited as reasons for poor preparation.

---

What’s Next?

The mass failure has sparked widespread concern and calls for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s education sector. Parents and some groups have even called for the cancellation of certain papers due to the poor conditions under which they were conducted. Experts and education stakeholders are urging the government to address the systemic failures, including stricter regulation of private schools, better funding for public schools, and a focus on recruiting and training qualified teachers.