A torrent of criticism is flooding Nigeria’s education ecosystem after the initial release of the 2025 WASSCE results revealed a devastating performance drop: only 38.32% of candidates secured five credits including English and Mathematics — down from 72.12% in 2024. This stunning collapse prompted calls from parents, educators, and students for accountability and radical reform.
The Education Ministry later revealed that the steep decline was partly due to technical glitches impacting serialised objective papers—Mathematics, English Language, Biology, and Economics. After an internal review, WAEC revised the pass rate to 62.96%.
Stakeholders argue that such erratic performance does not just signal failure—it undermines faith in the national assessment framework.
Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) labelled the outcome a product of systemic breakdown, drawing attention to compromised exam conditions. Reports from parts of the country confirmed candidates sat late-night papers by candlelight or flashlight due to power failures—circumstances NUT says WAEC should never have allowed to stand.
Students, via the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), condemned the overall administration, particularly the English exam. They described it as “horrific,” saying many were emotionally drained after having to sit the paper under extreme stress—highlighting how timing and logistics eroded performance.
Educators like Divine Mike denounced WAEC’s handling as a “national scandal,” accusing the body of turning a high-stakes examination into a game of “trial and error.” He questioned how stakeholders could trust results that swung from 38% to 63% within days—and called for immediate reshuffling of WAEC’s leadership.
Adding to mounting tension, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) criticised the use of unconventional exam settings—like candlelit paper sittings—as unjust and damaging to learning outcomes. They warned such lapses threaten WAEC’s ambition to shift fully to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) by 2026.
Responding, Education Minister Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, via the ministry’s spokesperson, emphasised government commitment to reform. He highlighted declining malpractice—down from 16.29% in 2023 to 9.70% in 2025—and promised intensified teacher training to uphold credibility. Still, he acknowledged the crisis demanded urgent systemic correction.
