Most Nigerian secondary school classrooms lack adequate electrical infrastructure, yet the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) forced students in such schools to sit a vital examination in the darkness of the night.
At several centres across Nigeria on Wednesday, the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) English Language paper, originally scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m., did not commence until midday.
EDITOR’S PICKS
In some centres, the final paper of the day did not begin until nightfall, with students in Lagos reportedly still writing as late as 11:45 p.m., under torchlight.
The disruption, which provoked outrage among parents and sparked widespread online backlash, affected numerous states in the southwest, including Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Osun.
EKO HOT BLOG gathered that the paper had been leaked online, prompting WAEC to replace it at the last minute.
This leakage, an issue that has plagued WAEC for over a decade without resolution, was entirely the fault of the council.
Yet it was the students who bore the consequences of WAEC’s failure. Critics argue that the council effectively punished innocent candidates for its inability to secure examination materials from public exposure.
As a result of WAEC’s failure to prevent the leak, WASSCE candidates in several schools were forced to write their English Language paper—a compulsory subject for entry into tertiary institutions—in the dark.
Many students described the distressing experience of writing such a critical exam in a highly unconducive environment. In doing so, WAEC effectively set up innocent candidates to fail, through no fault of their own.
WAEC’s Apology
In response to the incident, WAEC issued a statement apologising to candidates, parents, and schools.
Moyosola Adesina, the acting head of public affairs, stated that the disruption resulted from intensified security efforts to prevent question leakage.
“While we successfully maintained the integrity of the examination, it impacted the timeliness and seamless conduct of the English Language paper,” the statement read in part.
The council added that it is working with security agencies to prevent similar lapses in future.
‘Apology Not Enough’
Parents and concerned Nigerians have sharply criticised WAEC’s decision-making, which subjected students to an uncomfortable and unsafe environment for such a crucial exam.
Some have questioned why the council did not reschedule the paper instead of compromising students’ ability to perform optimally and exposing them to avoidable late-night risks.
Many observers contend that WAEC’s apology is insufficient. They are calling on the Federal Ministry of Education to demand accountability from the council.
Rather than merely issuing apologies and moving on, critics argue that WAEC must take a hard look at itself and ask why it has struggled with the same problems for over a decade without meaningful solutions.
FURTHER READING
According to critics, it was grossly unfair for the council to penalise candidates for its own shortcomings.
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