WAEC 2025: Why the System is Failing Nigerian Students
In an article titled “SSCE 2025: Expo on platter of gold as WAEC attempts to prevent English Language paper leakage?” which I authored and published on May 31, 2025, I voiced my concerns regarding the recent events with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) this year.
Let’s reference a portion of that brief piece. “Honestly speaking, the hope remains that there won’t be widespread failure in the English Language in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) following the disastrous move made by the organizers on Wednesday. Among all the papers, it was a mandatory subject like English that faced issues.
“What will be the most tragic aspect is that when, or rather if, that occurs, people will overlook the fact that these students took the exam in the most challenging conditions. Our children deserve more. These justifications given by examination bodies do not address any issues whatsoever.”
Currently, it is widely recognized that WAEC seems to be punishing innocent students because of its inefficiencies. Since the release of the results for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on August 4, 2025, there has been nothing but pain, suffering, frustration, and bewilderment. School owners are distressed due to the negative impact on their academic reputation. Parents are suffering because of the substantial amounts they spent to ensure their children could sit for the school certificate exams.
It’s important to understand that these fees can accumulate to significant sums, as most schools often combine the fees for all three terms for SS3 students before they undertake WAEC exams. Students who narrowly avoided JAMB’s significant ‘human error’ incident and applied for admission into tertiary institutions with awaiting results are utterly disheartened after passing other subjects but receiving F9, D7, or E8 in two essential subjects—Mathematics and English Language.
The most excruciating part of this entire situation is how WAEC disclosed the failure rates of students, suggesting it was a consequence of their attempts to prevent exam misconduct. Upon observing the mass failure, a responsible examination board would have reevaluated or retrieved the answer sheets from the affected students to identify the source of the issue. This is particularly critical as serialized or differentiated question papers were implemented. Had they taken this action, they would have pinpointed the fundamental error and corrected it prior to the results being published.
It appears that WAEC failed to glean any lessons from the incident involving JAMB earlier this year. What a year indeed!
One of the schools impacted in Ikorodu had only about three students out of roughly thirty who took the SSCE exams, scoring C5 and C6 in mathematics and English. The remainder received D7, E8, and F9. The majority ended up with F9. This is intolerable! How do you rationally convey to anyone that nothing went awry, especially regarding the grading system?
It is too early to forget the numerous concerning incidents that transpired during the exam period. Many students nationwide, particularly those in rural and underprivileged areas, were shown in viral videos taking their exams under extremely harsh conditions. Many had to rely on torches and candles during evening exams, while others continued writing until midnight due to poor logistics, delays in paper distribution, and power failures.
The decision to fail the affected students after the traumatic experience they faced during their exams has been labeled as scandalous by several individuals. How could WAEC position itself as the ‘Big Punisher’? The organization should have annulled those papers and arranged for them to be retaken. It was utterly unjust to expect students to perform well in such an unfavorable environment, particularly for the English language exam. Moreover, it is also entirely unfair for examination bodies to consistently attribute their shortcomings to the students by claiming that they are solely focused on cheating instead of studying. Many of them do study.
Numerous students left their homes to stay in boarding or camping facilities at their schools to concentrate on their education, as well as to enable teachers to give them more attention before the exams. Parents who are struggling to cope with harsh economic conditions due to government policies pay for the lessons and boarding provisions. The psychological impact that this widespread failure has caused for both students and their parents cannot be overlooked. “This is an internal failure, not the students’ failure,” stated Oluwaseun on X.
Since the results were published, there has been a national uproar among parents, educators, and educational advocacy groups. A Nigerian mother, speaking in Yoruba, has gone viral on social media, calling on others to join the protest against WAEC.
She attributed the mass failure to the late-night examinations. If urgent actions are not taken, the protests could escalate larger than anticipated. There is significant discontent directed at WAEC.
Additionally, Alex Onyia, the CEO of Educare and one of the individuals instrumental in prompting JAMB to acknowledge their mistakes and organize a re-sit for students they unfairly failed in the 2025 examination, has raised concerns regarding the mass failure by WAEC in 2025.
Onyia expressed his grievances on his X platform, noting that only 38% passed English and mathematics under conditions of midnight exams and makeshift lighting.
He questioned the validity of the results after WAEC disclosed that merely 38% of the 1.9 million candidates achieved credit in both English Language and Mathematics, which is the minimum requirement for university admission in Nigeria.
“How can only 38% of students out of over 1.9 million who participated in WAEC score credits in English and mathematics? There is something inherently wrong.”
Ajala Adetunji David also shared his thoughts on X, stating, “The widespread failure in English is indicative of how the exam was conducted. The students are now experiencing the repercussions of a flawed system. There is a necessity to retake the English examination. The results are unacceptable.” This also applies to mathematics.
On Facebook, Oyedeji Bright Oluwafemi authored a post titled, “WAEC 2025: A Broken System or a Failing Generation?” In his piece, he stated, “A comprehensive review of WAEC’s logistics, policies, and crisis response is essential. Many believe the examining body should launch an investigation into the events of the 2025 WASSCE and shed light on the decision-making process behind the grading. With a significant number of failed and withheld results, this year’s outcome serves as more than just a disappointment; it is a national alarm that calls for urgent action.
“It’s no longer sufficient to attribute inadequate performance to students’ lack of effort or preparation. Although academic discipline is crucial, we cannot overlook the systemic issues that persist within our examination bodies. When students experience disorganized exam environments, postponed start times, and insufficient supervision, their likelihood of excelling is severely impacted. What we are observing is more than just a surge of failures; it reflects the urgent outcry of a dysfunctional system.
Currently, countless students confront uncertain academic prospects, not due to a lack of studying, but because a flawed system has set them up for defeat.” Oluwafemi stressed that “the Nigerian government must take immediate steps.
WAEC officials should be called for a comprehensive public investigation. The grading process must be examined and validated. The rights of students, particularly those whose results have been unjustly withheld, must be safeguarded.
Education is essential to any serious nation. If we persist in allowing mismanagement, corruption, or ineptitude to dictate how we evaluate our students, we are jeopardizing our future.”
This serves as a reminder to parents. Keep an eye on your children. No child should ever consider ending their life over mathematics or English language results, as has reportedly occurred with JAMB. There will always be a brighter tomorrow.
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