The West African Examinations Council has issued an apology to students, parents, and schools following widespread outrage over the late-night administration of the 2025 English Language examination held on Wednesday, May 28.
The exam, originally scheduled for earlier in the day, was delayed for several hours, with many candidates sitting for the paper under torchlight and kerosene lanterns due to power outages.
In a statement released on Thursday, WAEC explained that the primary reason for the delay was an intensified effort to prevent examination malpractice, particularly the leakage of question papers.
“We are committed to preserving the integrity of our examinations, and this year, we took additional steps to ensure that no paper was compromised,” said Moyosola Adesina, Acting Head of Public Affairs at WAEC. “Unfortunately, those efforts came at the cost of timeliness and convenience for candidates.”
Videos and images from various centres across the country went viral on social media, showing students writing the English Language Paper 2 late into the night in poorly lit classrooms. One such case was reported in Delta State, where candidates began their exam well into the evening due to the late arrival of exam materials.
Adesina acknowledged the negative impact on students and their schools, stating, “We deeply regret the discomfort and disruption caused. It was never our intention to subject candidates to such conditions.”
In addition to anti-malpractice measures, WAEC cited logistical setbacks, security issues, and sociocultural dynamics as contributing factors to the delays in some locations. The council said it is already working with security agencies to address these operational inefficiencies and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“To forestall future challenges of this nature, we are in close collaboration with security agencies to streamline our processes,” Adesina added.
The 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates began on April 24 and is expected to conclude on June 20.
Despite the disruption, WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to conducting credible examinations and promoting academic excellence. “We understand the significance of conducting exams promptly and fairly. The council remains focused on improving all aspects of the examination process,” the statement concluded.
