Following reports of widespread failure in the recently released results of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), several parents and education advocacy groups have called on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to cancel the affected papers and conduct a thorough review.
According to data released by WAEC, a significant percentage of candidates failed core subjects such as Mathematics, English Language, and Science, sparking outrage and concerns over the credibility of the examination process.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, a coalition of concerned parents and the Education Reform and Advocacy Group (ERAG) described the results as “deeply disturbing” and “a reflection of possible systemic failure.”
“The level of failure this year is unprecedented. There is no way thousands of students could suddenly become academically incompetent across all regions. We demand that WAEC investigates this anomaly,” said Mrs. Florence Ogundipe, a parent and spokesperson for ERAG.
The group alleged that technical glitches during computer-based tests, inconsistencies in marking schemes, and poor exam supervision may have contributed to the mass failure.
They further urged the Federal Ministry of Education to intervene immediately by suspending the results of the most affected subjects and setting up an independent panel to audit the examination and marking process.
Social media has been abuzz with reactions, as students and parents continue to express frustration over the poor performance. Hashtags like #WAECFailure2025 and #CancelWAECResults have been trending on X (formerly Twitter), with many calling for reforms in Nigeria’s educational assessment systems.
WAEC has yet to respond formally to the allegations, but an internal source told reporters that the council is aware of the situation and is reviewing complaints submitted by schools and examination centres.
Meanwhile, education experts have warned against jumping to conclusions, urging stakeholders to await a comprehensive explanation from WAEC.
“We understand the public’s concern, but there must be evidence before we accuse the system of failure. However, transparency from WAEC is crucial at this point,” said Dr. Yusuf Adeniran, a lecturer in Educational Measurement and Evaluation.
As pressure mounts, all eyes are now on WAEC and the Ministry of Education to respond decisively to restore public confidence in the nation’s examination system.