2025 WAEC Results Hit 15-Year Low, Says NAPPS

Private school owners in Nigeria have described the results of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) as the worst in over a decade, attributing this to insufficient teacher training, inadequate education funding, and unfavorable learning conditions.

During an interview on Channels Television, Dr. Yomi Otubela, the National President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), stated that only around 38% of examinees achieved five credits, including English and Mathematics, which marks the lowest pass rate since 2015, when the previous low was 39%.

“This is the worst we’ve seen in approximately 15 years,” Otubela remarked, noting that the decline indicates fundamental weaknesses in the system. “We have not adequately focused on enhancing our teachers’ skills, and the budgetary allocations do not meet UNESCO’s recommended standards.”

He pointed out that poor infrastructure, a lack of digital access in rural regions, and overcrowded classrooms are additional challenges. “In some areas, children might have to share one computer among 100 students,” he explained.

The NAPPS president also mentioned feedback from school owners who feel the exam results do not accurately represent their students’ capabilities. WAEC provides candidates with the option to request a review of their exam scripts, and Otubela encouraged members to take advantage of that possibility.

He underscored the harsh circumstances under which some students took their exams. “Students who had to sit for exams well into the night using candles or torches should not be used as a benchmark for achieving good results,” he stated, praising those who managed to persevere despite such difficulties.

Otubela called for a “state of emergency” in the education sector, commending the recent initiative by the education minister to enforce stricter teacher registration through the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria. “We cannot nurture children who struggle to succeed without the necessary facilities,” he emphasized.

He condemned the ineffective enforcement of educational standards. “Our issues are not about creating policies… it is about the capacity to implement these policies consistently and fairly,” he asserted.

Regarding recent online allegations naming schools purportedly engaged in exam malpractice, Otubela mentioned that WAEC has refuted these claims. “These lists are not based on facts… the public should disregard them,” he urged.

WAEC confirmed that the 2025 results can still be accessed online following initial delays on the release day.