The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has attributed the delay in the conduct of the 2025 English Language Paper 2 to intensified efforts to prevent examination malpractice, especially the leakage of question papers.
In a statement released on Thursday, WAEC acknowledged the disruption experienced by candidates across various examination centres nationwide on Wednesday, May 28. Although the paper was originally scheduled for 12:00 p.m., it began several hours late in many locations, with some students reportedly writing as late as 10:00 p.m., relying on torchlights and lanterns due to power outages.
Images and videos shared on social media showed students taking the exam in dark classrooms, sparking widespread criticism and concerns about the planning and safety of the examination process.
WAEC’s Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, said the delay was largely a result of the examination body’s heightened commitment to ensuring the integrity of the examination process.
“While maintaining the integrity and security of our examination, we faced considerable challenges primarily due to our major aim of preventing leakage of any paper. While we successfully achieved our objective, it inadvertently impacted the timeliness and seamless conduct of the examination,” she said.
WAEC also cited other challenges including logistical issues, security threats, and sociocultural dynamics in some regions, which disrupted operations. The council noted that it is working with security agencies to improve coordination and prevent a recurrence of such incidents in future exams.
“Despite our best efforts, we encountered logistical hurdles, security concerns and sociocultural factors that negatively influenced our operations. In order to forestall future occurrences of this nature, the council is currently collaborating with security agencies,” the statement added.
WAEC extended its apologies to candidates, schools, and parents for the inconvenience caused, and expressed gratitude for the patience shown during what it described as a challenging period.
“We recognise the importance of timely conduct of examinations and the impact of this decision on the candidates, their schools and parents, and we sincerely apologise for any inconveniences caused,” Adesina said.
Earlier reports from media outlets and social media platforms highlighted troubling scenes from WAEC centres across the country. In Delta State, candidates were seen starting their exams late into the evening due to the delayed delivery of exam materials. Similar experiences were reported in other states, with some students writing under unsafe and unsuitable conditions.
The 2025 WASSCE for school candidates began on April 24 and is scheduled to end on June 20.
