The West African Examinations Council has issued a public apology following backlash over the delayed conduct of the English Language Paper 2 in the ongoing 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
Originally scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, May 28, the paper was instead administered in the evening, disrupting academic schedules and drawing criticism from students, parents, and school authorities nationwide.
In a statement signed by Moyosola Adesina, Acting Head of the Public Affairs Department, WAEC explained that the delay was a result of efforts to protect the credibility of the examination.
“While maintaining the integrity and security of our examination, we faced considerable challenges primarily due to our major aim of preventing leakage of any paper,” WAEC stated.
The council acknowledged the consequences of the late examination, apologizing for the inconvenience it caused.
“We recognise the importance of the timely conduct of examinations and the impact of this decision on candidates, their schools and parents, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the statement read.
The exam, held as late as 10:00 p.m. in some centres, forced students to write under harsh conditions, with many relying on torchlights and lanterns due to power outages. Social media was awash with videos and images showing students working in near-darkness, fuelling widespread criticism of WAEC’s preparedness.
One widely shared video captured a poorly lit exam hall where students were visibly straining to complete their papers, raising concerns about the impact on their performance. Many questioned the logistical arrangements and overall readiness of the council to manage such a sensitive academic process.
WAEC further explained that several external challenges affected its operations. “In spite of our best efforts, we encountered logistical hurdles, security concerns and socio-cultural factors that negatively influenced our operations,” WAEC explained. The council affirmed its continued commitment to excellence in examination management. “We successfully achieved our objective, but it inadvertently impacted the timeliness and seamless conduct of the examination,” it added.
The incident also triggered anxiety among parents, with many voicing concerns about their children’s safety and mental well-being due to the unusually late exam hours.
Mrs. Banke Oluwole, whose son was writing the paper at St. Barnabas Secondary School, shared her experience. “My son is still writing an English paper at St. Barnabas Secondary school, and I have to come down to wait for him, so that we can go home together. I cannot allow him to come home alone, considering the security problems we have in the country. WAEC should have looked for another alternative instead of making them go through this stress,” she said.
Similarly, Mrs. Omowumi Oladipo, whose daughter sat for the paper at Mercy Group of Schools, expressed her frustration. “These are the kind of things we should consider before we start lamenting that the students didn’t pass or there was mass failure,” she noted, after her daughter returned home past 8:00 p.m.
Mr. Philips James, a parent of a student at St. Joseph Centenary College, pointed to wider issues within the educational sector. “It was unfortunate that different crises are bedevilling the education sector in the country with unusual happenings,” he said. He urged regulatory bodies to implement stricter preventive measures to avoid such occurrences in the future.
