The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has provided an explanation for the unusual delay that caused students to write the English Language paper of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) late into the night on Wednesday.
According to WAEC, the delay was a deliberate measure aimed at preventing the leakage of question papers and safeguarding the overall integrity of the examination process. This precaution was deemed necessary to maintain fairness and credibility in the conduct of the exam.
In a statement issued by the Council’s spokesperson, Moyosola Adeshina, WAEC acknowledged that while the objective of preventing leaks was successfully achieved, the process was not without its challenges.
The Council faced significant logistical and security hurdles that adversely affected the planned schedule and disrupted the smooth administration of the examination. These unforeseen complications contributed to the delay and extended the writing time well into the evening hours.
WAEC further assured the public that it is collaborating closely with relevant security agencies to strengthen measures that will prevent any recurrence of such incidents in future examinations.
The body emphasized its commitment to ensuring that all examinations are conducted under secure conditions that uphold the highest standards.
Recognizing the inconvenience caused by the late-night examinations, WAEC issued a formal apology to all affected stakeholders, including the candidates, their schools, and parents.
The statement conveyed the Council’s awareness of the critical importance of conducting examinations on time and expressed sincere regret for any distress or disruption resulting from the delay. “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,” the statement read.
The Council also expressed appreciation for the patience and understanding demonstrated by candidates, school authorities, and parents during this challenging period.
WAEC reiterated its dedication to maintaining the highest standards in examination administration and reaffirmed its ongoing efforts to promote academic excellence throughout the West African sub-region.
The incident primarily affected students across the South-western states, where the WASSCE English Language paper, originally scheduled to start at noon, was postponed until late evening on Wednesday.
Many students began writing as late as 7 p.m., with some continuing until 9 p.m. This irregular schedule drew widespread attention on social media platforms, where videos circulated showing secondary school students bent over their desks, using flashlights and torchlights to complete their exams under dim conditions.
The unusual scenes sparked concern among educational authorities and the public alike. Just a few days prior to the incident, IREPORT247NEWS reported that the Federal Ministry of Education condemned a similar occurrence in Delta State, where WASSCE candidates were seen sitting examinations at night under torchlight illumination. The Ministry of Education, through the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, publicly expressed deep displeasure over the situation.
In an official statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, Dr. Alausa described the circumstances captured in the widely circulated video as “completely unacceptable.” The Minister assured that the government would implement all necessary measures to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future, underscoring the importance of a conducive and secure examination environment for all students.