The Katsina State Government has called for the cancellation of the recently held West African Examinations Council (WAEC) English Language paper, citing major delays that disrupted the exam schedule nationwide.
The call was made on Saturday by the state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Zainab Musa-Musawa, during a visit to the WAEC office in Katsina. She expressed concern over the severe lateness in the commencement of the exam, which was conducted on Wednesday, starting several hours later than scheduled across the country.
The demand for cancellation is based on a formal petition signed by Ummukhair Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. According to the commissioner, many students were forced to take the exam under extremely challenging conditions.
“Students had to write the examination at night without electricity, relying on torchlights, phone flashlights, and security lights,” Mrs Musa-Musawa said.
WAEC attributed the nationwide delay to intensified efforts to prevent examination malpractice, especially the leakage of question papers.
The commissioner urged schools, parents, and communities to remain calm and await the outcome of the petition submitted by the state government.
