ABUJA — The release of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has triggered widespread outrage among parents, teachers, students, and education stakeholders following an unprecedented mass failure.
Out of the 1,969,313 candidates who sat for the exam, only 754,545—representing 38.32%—obtained credits and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. The figure marks a sharp decline from the 72.12% recorded in 2024, sparking calls for an overhaul of WAEC’s leadership and urgent government intervention.
Daily Post reports that the shocking performance coincided with complaints of technical glitches, irregularities, and delayed exam schedules in key subjects such as Mathematics, English Language, Biology, and Economics. Following public outcry, WAEC admitted to hitches in its system, temporarily withdrew access to the results, and later corrected what it described as “technical errors.”
Stakeholders Lament “System Failure”
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) faulted WAEC’s handling of the examination, blaming the chaos on poor planning.
“Some candidates sat for English at odd hours because the paper leaked earlier. Students who prepared for a morning paper ended up writing late into the evening. That is unacceptable,” the union stated.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) echoed similar concerns, describing the conduct of the English paper as “horrific.”
“Candidates were emotionally drained and fatigued. Combined with technical hitches, this disaster was bound to happen,” the student body said.
A school teacher, Divine Mike, described the development as a “national disaster” and accused WAEC of eroding the credibility of Nigeria’s education system.
“You cannot make such a serious examination a subject of trial and error. Today the pass rate is 38%, tomorrow 63%. How are we supposed to trust the authenticity of these results?” he asked.
Another private school teacher, Israel Chukwudi, expressed fears that the incident could derail WAEC’s plan to fully introduce Computer-Based Testing (CBT) by 2026.
“If WAEC cannot manage logistics under the current system, how will it transition to CBT, especially with poor digital infrastructure in rural areas?” he questioned.
Students Shift Hope to NECO
Some of the affected candidates said their only hope now lies with the ongoing National Examination Council (NECO) exams.
“My only hope now is in NECO. I pray I clear my papers so I can continue my education,” said Ogwuche Aminu, one of the students.
Another candidate, Blessing Uguru, partly blamed students for the poor performance, citing laziness and poor study habits. “I learnt the hard way. I’m waiting for NECO to know my fate,” she added.
FG Reacts, Promises Reform
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, through the ministry’s spokesperson, Boriowo Folasade, reassured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to transparency and educational excellence.
He noted that despite the mass failure, examination malpractice rates had declined over the past three years—from 16.29% in 2023 to 9.70% in 2025—thanks to reforms such as the serialization of question papers.
“We are committed to producing smart, competent teachers and ensuring that every hardworking child has the opportunity to succeed. The credibility of our exams must not be compromised,” the minister stressed.
With mounting pressure from stakeholders, calls for an independent probe into WAEC’s handling of the 2025 WASSCE may soon dominate Nigeria’s education discourse, as parents and students demand answers over what many now describe as “the worst exam disaster in recent years.”
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