WAEC under fire as students write exams late at night

DDM News

Fear and frustration have gripped Nigerian parents as students writing the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) were forced to take their papers at night.

Many of the candidates had to spend the night at their examination centres due to the delayed arrival of the English Language paper.

The paper was originally scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm on Wednesday.

However, it failed to arrive at several centres across Osun and Oyo States until late in the evening.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the delay was allegedly caused by a leak of the English Language paper.

As a result, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) had to urgently prepare and distribute a fresh set of questions to the affected centres.

This sudden development led to confusion and distress for both students and parents.

In many locations, candidates had waited for hours without any information or guidance.

By 7:30 pm, no WAEC officials had arrived with the exam materials in numerous centres.

Some students, believing the exam would no longer hold, returned home in disappointment.

Others chose to remain at the centres, hoping the paper would eventually arrive.

In one incident in Iragbiji, Osun State, a female candidate returned home around 6:40 pm after waiting in vain.

About 30 minutes later, her mother received a phone call from the school principal, instructing her to send the girl back to the centre immediately.

The mother, worried about the long distance and safety of her daughter, allowed her to go accompanied by her older sister.

She expressed fear and anxiety, stating she hoped they would arrive safely before 10:00 pm.

Many parents took to social media to express their anger and frustration over the situation.

A parent and human rights advocate, Lamina Omotoyosi, wrote on Facebook that students were still waiting for the exam to start as late as 7:44 pm.

He questioned WAEC’s silence and demanded answers.

Other parents confirmed that the delay was linked to the leaked paper and the need to print a new version.

In Oyo State, Abdulwaris Adewale Olaoye stated that students began writing the paper as late as 6:45 pm.

He confirmed that the delay was due to the discovery of leaked questions and the need to replace them.

Another Nigerian, Hadassah Olajumoke, noted that nothing could be done but for students to wait and write the paper at night.

The situation was made worse by the lack of electricity in many centres.

Most schools did not anticipate a night-time examination and failed to make arrangements for lighting.

As a result, some students wrote their exams in near darkness, using torchlights or candles.

Nigeria’s electricity crisis added another layer of difficulty for these students.

The WASSCE is a crucial examination that determines students’ eligibility for university and other tertiary institutions.

This year’s disruption has raised widespread concern over WAEC’s logistics and preparedness.

Many parents and education stakeholders are calling for urgent reform in the administration of national exams.

There is growing pressure on WAEC to issue an official explanation for the embarrassing delay.

So far, the examination body has remained silent on the incident.

The lack of communication from WAEC has only deepened public concern and criticism.

As students return to their centres for the next round of papers, many parents remain on edge.

They worry about the safety, mental health, and performance of their children.

Educational rights advocates are urging the government to intervene and ensure better coordination in future examinations.

Nigerians are calling for greater transparency, security, and accountability in the conduct of public examinations.

This recent episode has shaken public confidence in WAEC’s ability to conduct secure and well-organised assessments.

The voices of concerned parents and civil society must not be ignored.

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