The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has come under fire after thousands of candidates were suddenly unable to access their 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results due to what the body described as a “technical fault.”
The disruption occurred just hours after the much-anticipated results went live on the WAEC portal. In a statement signed by its Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, WAEC explained that the shutdown was necessary after a routine post-release review revealed faults in the processing of grades.
The glitch reportedly affected results in four major subjects—Mathematics, English Language, Biology, and Economics—where a new paper serialisation method was introduced this year to tackle examination malpractice. WAEC assured candidates that the affected results were being corrected and advised them to recheck the portal from Friday, promising a full fix within 24 hours.
The official WAEC X (formerly Twitter) handle had earlier confirmed the suspension of the results portal, attributing it simply to “technical issues” without offering further details at the time.
The development comes amid already worrying statistics. Earlier this week, WAEC’s Head of National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, revealed that only 38.32% of nearly two million candidates obtained credit passes in at least five subjects, including English and Mathematics. This marks the steepest decline in pass rates in over a decade.
The incident has fuelled intense debate among education stakeholders, with many questioning WAEC’s readiness to fully implement its proposed Computer-Based Test (CBT) examination system for external candidates by 2026.
The National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) acknowledged WAEC’s transparency in admitting the fault but warned against rushing into the CBT transition. President Haruna Danjuma argued that poor infrastructure and limited computer literacy among rural students could make the shift impractical without significant preparation.
In a harsher reaction, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) accused WAEC of gross negligence. Assistant General Secretary Adejuwon Olatunji said the error exposed the council’s lack of due diligence, calling for leadership reforms to restore public trust.
Social media also erupted with mixed emotions. While some users ridiculed WAEC’s 24-hour fix pledge, others expressed frustration over the stress the disruption had caused students and families.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) urged the public to take a broader view. President Audu Amba noted that student performance is shaped by various factors, including home environment and government investment in education, cautioning against placing all the blame on WAEC or teachers.
By Thursday evening, the Federal Ministry of Education confirmed that the technical fault had been resolved. Director of Press Folasade Boriowo praised WAEC’s swift response and reassured the public that both WAEC and the National Examinations Council (NECO) would begin gradual CBT integration from November 2026, starting with the objective sections of exams.
According to the ministry, the reform is aimed at curbing malpractice, improving efficiency, and boosting the credibility of Nigerian examination certificates in the global arena.