Stakeholders in Nigeria's education sector have strongly criticized the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) following a dramatic revision of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, demanding independent investigations and sanctions against the examination body.
The controversy erupted after WAEC initially announced on July 4 that only 38.32 percent of the 1,969,313 candidates secured credits in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, sparking widespread criticism from parents and educational groups.
Following an internal review that discovered what WAEC described as "technical glitches," the examination body temporarily withdrew access to the results. Upon reopening its online portal on Friday, August 10, the pass rate was dramatically revised upward to 62.96 percent—effectively doubling the initial figure.
At a news conference in Lagos, WAEC officials explained that the new statistics indicated 1,239,884 candidates now have five credits including English and Mathematics. The Council attributed the initial discrepancies to "serialisation issues" in key subjects including Mathematics, English, Biology, and Economics.
Ike Onyechere, Founder of Exam Ethics Marshall International (EEMI), described the situation as "a national disaster" and accused WAEC of "bastardising the entire education process."
"You cannot make such a serious examination a subject of trial and error. Today the pass rate is 38 percent, tomorrow it becomes 63 percent. How are we supposed to trust the authenticity of these results?" Onyechere questioned.
Education stakeholders have expressed concerns that inconsistencies in such high-stakes examinations could severely damage the credibility of Nigeria's academic qualifications both locally and internationally. Many are calling for an overhaul of WAEC's management team.
Onyechere has called on the Federal Ministry of Education, the Presidency, and the National Assembly to launch an urgent investigation into the matter, insisting that those at the helm of affairs in WAEC should be reshuffled.
The WASSCE is a standardized evaluation for secondary school leavers and serves as a basic requirement for tertiary institution admissions across West Africa, making the integrity of its results crucial for educational advancement.
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