Massive Drop in WAEC Results Sparks Outrage as Parents, Educators Demand Exam Cancellation
Widespread outrage has erupted across Nigeria following the release of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, with parents, educators, and stakeholders expressing deep concern over what many describe as an unprecedented mass failure.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) revealed that only 38.32% of candidates obtained credit passes in at least five subjects including English Language and Mathematics a dramatic drop from the 72.12% recorded in 2024.
The significant decline has triggered calls for the cancellation and re-conduction of certain core subjects, particularly English and Mathematics. Many parents and educational advocacy groups believe that the poor results are a symptom of deeper systemic issues in Nigeria’s education sector. On the Concerned Parents and Educators (CPE) platform, an emotional post by Adegoke Bimpe Atoke went viral, describing the situation as heartbreaking.
She recounted how many students had to write lengthy essays under torchlight at night, swatting mosquitoes in poorly lit, rain-drenched classrooms. According to her, such conditions point to a fundamental collapse in educational standards, prompting a broader call for urgent and strategic reform.
Another parent, Abiodun Adesanya Adeleke, joined the growing number of voices demanding that the English Language paper be retaken, citing serious irregularities during the exams. He highlighted that students were forced to write late into the night in mosquito-infested classrooms, a situation that, in his words, “makes a mockery of what should be a standardized examination.”
While many have criticized WAEC and the Ministry of Education, some educators are pushing back against the calls for cancellation. A teacher in Lagos, Mr. Adebayo Ifeoluwa, said exams at his school started and ended on time without issue. He questioned why late-night sessions occurred in some centres, suggesting that local logistical failures not WAEC itself may be to blame.
Beyond the logistical challenges, concerns have also been raised about the difficulty level of the objective sections of the exams. An insider within WAEC disclosed that one contributing factor to the mass failure was the introduction of serialization in the multiple-choice papers.
This new method meant that the same questions were arranged differently for each candidate, reducing opportunities for cheating and forcing students to rely solely on their knowledge. According to the insider, many students were unprepared for this change and struggled to adapt.
On social media, the debate has grown more intense. A commentator, Rex Oscar, challenged the validity of blaming only students, stating that even high-performing candidates in JAMB failed English Language in WAEC. He called for an official inquiry to investigate the root causes of the mass failure, stressing that blaming students alone ignores broader institutional failings.
Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, National President of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), offered a wider perspective on the crisis.
While acknowledging a reduction in examination malpractice, he pointed to chronic underfunding, a shortage of qualified teachers, and the inability of parents to afford textbooks due to rising costs as contributing factors. He also emphasized the poor welfare conditions of teachers, asking how a teacher burdened with survival concerns can be expected to give their best in the classroom.
Despite the uproar and growing demands for reform, both WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education have yet to issue an official response to the calls for cancellation or to address the concerns raised by parents and education advocates.
