The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has apologized to students, parents, and schools over the delay in conducting the English Language Paper 2 in the ongoing 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The exam, which was scheduled for earlier in the day, was eventually written on Wednesday evening across various centres in Nigeria. This led to concerns and frustration among candidates and stakeholders.
In a statement released by Moyosola Adesina, the Acting Head of the Public Affairs Department of WAEC, the council explained that the delay was caused by multiple challenges it faced while trying to prevent exam paper leakage.
“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,” the statement read.
WAEC admitted that although its goal of protecting the examination content was achieved, it came at the cost of timeliness and smooth administration of the exam.
“In spite of our best efforts, we encountered logistical hurdles, security concerns, and socio-cultural factors that negatively influenced our operations,” the council added.
The English Language exam is one of the most important subjects in the WASSCE, making the delay even more significant for over a million candidates sitting for the exam across Nigeria and other West African countries.
WAEC, however, reassured the public that it remains committed to conducting credible and fair examinations, despite the recent challenges.
“We recognize the importance of timely conduct of examinations and the impact of this decision on candidates, their schools and parents, and we sincerely apologize for any inconveniences caused,” the statement added.
The council further pledged to learn from the incident and improve its logistics and coordination to avoid similar occurrences in the future.
WAEC conducts the WASSCE for final-year secondary school students in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia. The exam is a major requirement for university admission and employment in many sectors across the region.
As the exams continue, WAEC urged candidates to remain calm and focused, assuring them of its dedication to upholding academic standards and promoting excellence.
