WAEC apologises for late-night English exams, cites anti-malpractice measures

The West African Examinations Council has blamed the delay in the conduct of the 2025 English Language paper on Wednesday on heightened efforts to curb examination malpractice, particularly the leakage of question papers.

In a statement issued on Thursday, WAEC acknowledged the disruption experienced by candidates during the English Language Paper 2, which was scheduled for May 28 but held several hours behind schedule in many centres nationwide.

Videos and photos circulated on social media showed students sitting for the examination as late as 10pm, relying on torchlights and lanterns due to power outages, a situation that sparked outrage and renewed concerns about examination planning and student welfare.

WAEC’s Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, said the examination body’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the examination contributed significantly to the delay.

“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.

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“While we successfully achieved our objective, it inadvertently impacted the timeliness and seamless conduct of the examination.,” Adesina said.

The examination body also pointed to other compounding factors such as logistical challenges, security concerns, and sociocultural dynamics, which disrupted operations in some areas.

To prevent a recurrence, WAEC said it is working with security agencies to streamline the process and improve operational efficiency in subsequent exams.

“Despite our best efforts, we encountered logistical hurdles, security concerns and sociocultural factors that negatively influenced our operations.

“In order to forestall future occurrences of this nature, the council is currently collaborating with security agencies,” the statement added.

WAEC apologised to students, schools, and parents for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and thanked all stakeholders for their understanding during what it described as a “challenging period”.

The examination body reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the integrity of its exams and promoting academic excellence across the region.

“We recognise the importance of timely conduct of examinations and the impact of this decision on the candidates, their schools and parents, and we sincerely apologise for any inconveniences caused,” Adesina added.

It was earlier reported on the troubling scenes from several WAEC centres across the country, including videos showing students sitting forexams in dark classrooms using flashlights and kerosene lanterns.

One such incidents was recorded in Delta State, where candidates reportedly began their exam late in the evening due to delayed arrival of papers.

The 2025 WASSCE for school candidates commenced on April 24 and is scheduled to end on June 20.