The 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) got off to a dark start on Thursday across several centres in Oyo, Lagos, Ogun and Osun states.
Due to the late arrival of examination materials, several
candidates were forced to sit for papers late into the evening.
On Monday, candidates reportedly waited several hours before
writing the Physics Essay and Objective papers, which were scheduled for 2pm
and 3:30pm respectively.
The delays persisted on Wednesday, with the General
Mathematics Objective paper starting at 6:30pm in some centres and as late as
8:30pm in others, leaving candidates to finish the examination after 10pm.
The situation was said to be particularly severe in some
centres in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
The first batch of the Agricultural Science practical
examination was slated for 2pm, while the second batch was scheduled for
3:30pm.
However, as of 8pm, some centres in the state had yet to
commence the examination.
Due to the delay, candidates reportedly sat the examination
under poor lighting conditions.
In a viral video, several students could be seen writing the
examination with torchlights, mobile phone flashlights and solar-powered lamps.
The incident has since triggered widespread outrage on
social media.
Mariam Kehinde, an X user, said that as of past 8pm on
Thursday, her sister was yet to return home from the examination centre.
“What exactly is happening in this country sef? My sister
left for her WAEC exam since morning and still hadn’t returned home,” she
wrote.
“She called around 6pm saying their exam paper had just
arrived at that time nitori olorun. She was still at the exam centre, and my
mum even had to wait.”
Adedeji Adeyinka, another user, described Thursday’s conduct
of the examination as “particularly disturbing”.
“Candidates writing Government completed the Theory paper
and were instructed to wait for the Objective paper, only for the question
paper to arrive more than FOUR HOURS later,” he posted.
“How is this acceptable in a national examination? Even more
shocking was the situation faced by students writing Agricultural Science
Practical. An examination scheduled for 2:00 p.m. did not commence until about
9:00 p.m. in many parts of Oyo State.
“A seven-hour delay is not a minor inconvenience. It is a
systemic failure.”
Another X user identified as Mum Ire also lamented the
shortage of question papers during Wednesday’s Mathematics examination.
“Out of 75 candidates, only 35 Mathematics question papers
were brought to the examination centre for the entire exam yesterday,” she
wrote on Thursday.
“When did WAEC start operating like this?
“Now we are being told that the Agriculture Science
practical questions are on the way at 8:10 pm.”
Joel Abodunrin also decried the shortage of question papers.
“WAEC’s been doing well until today,” he wrote on Wednesday.
“An examination hall of about 250 candidates and having
Mathematics question papers for only 120.
“Getting to tear the questions into pieces so that all could
have something to do.”
Hakeem Olaoye, another user, said candidates were being made
to write examinations at unreasonable hours.
“WAEC exam being conducted late in the evening.
“The Agric practical exam that was supposed to be held by
2pm just commenced some minutes after 7pm,” he wrote.
“Very disheartening indeed. Likewise for Mathematics. A
school with 130 students was given 16 question booklets to share among.”
The development has raised concerns about the safety of
candidates amid the country’s growing security challenges.
Speaking to TheCable, Moyosola Adesina, head of public
affairs at WAEC Nigeria, said the examination body would soon issue an official
statement to address the complaints.
‘IT’S APPALLING AND DANGEROUS’
Reacting, Akinteye Azeez, president of the National
Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), described the situation as
unacceptable and dangerous.
“It is both appalling and condemnable that young Nigerians,
who had already endured months of preparation and the mental rigours associated
with external examinations, were subjected to unnecessary hardship by being
kept at examination centres far beyond reasonable hours,” he said.
“No examination procedure, administrative challenge, or
operational deficiency should come at the expense of the safety and fundamental
rights of students.”
Azeez said the development was even more alarming because it
occurred in the south-west, a region that has been witnessing incidents of
kidnapping and other security threats.
“What makes this development even more alarming is the fact
that it occurred within the South-West region, a zone that has, in recent
times, witnessed incidents of kidnapping, crime and other security challenges,”
he said.
“Against this backdrop, it was grossly irresponsible for
examination authorities to permit circumstances that left students stranded or
lingering at examination centres late into the night, thereby exposing them to
potential danger.”
The NANS president called for a thorough review of WAEC’s
examination logistics and contingency measures to ensure that the welfare,
security and rights of candidates remain paramount.
“Students must never become victims of administrative
failures, poor planning or institutional negligence,” he added.
The 2026 WASSCE began on April 21 and is scheduled to end on
Friday, June 19.
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