 |
Mass Failure in WASSCE 2025 |
The 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results have sparked nationwide outrage following a mass failure in key subjects—most notably English Language and Mathematics. Only 38.32% of the nearly 2 million candidates who sat for the exam earned credit passes in five subjects including English and Math, a dramatic drop from 72.12% in 2024.
This troubling development has led to urgent calls from parents, teachers, and education advocacy groups for the cancellation and rescheduling of the English Language paper, amid allegations of gross irregularities during the exam process.
English Language Exam Under Fire: Calls for Retake
Numerous complaints have emerged over how the English Language paper was administered, with some candidates reportedly writing the exam as late as 10:30 PM, using phone torchlights in mosquito-infested classrooms, and under heavy rainfall in certain locations.
A post shared on the popular Concerned Parents and Educators Network (CPE) platform by education advocate Adegoke Bimpe Atoke described the situation as "a national disgrace," stating:
“450-word essays written with phone torchlight under the rain. How did we arrive here? Our systems need drastic, strategic, urgent reforms.”
Another concerned parent, Abiodun Adesanya Adeleke, lamented the late-night exam schedule, questioning the credibility of a test written in such conditions:
“Students writing exams till 9:00 PM with mosquitoes buzzing around—how do we call that a standardized test?”
These and other testimonies have prompted widespread demand for an independent investigation and a possible retake of the English Language and Mathematics exams, which many believe were compromised in their administration.
Who Is to Blame?
While some teachers have defended the exam process in certain regions, pointing to on-schedule exam timing, others argue that WAEC’s logistical failures, lack of teacher recruitment, and poor infrastructure in public schools are to blame.
“No exam is scheduled to take place at night. So who’s at fault?” asked Mr. Adebayo Ifeoluwa, a secondary school teacher in Lagos State.
Critics also argue that the mass failure cannot be pinned solely on students’ lack of preparation, especially when students who excelled in JAMB still failed English Language in WASSCE.
Rex Oscar, an education stakeholder, stated: “You can’t tell me over 70% of SS3 students didn’t study. Even high-performing students failed. This calls for a deeper probe.”
WAEC’s Measures Against Exam Malpractice
In defense, insiders from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) revealed that this year’s exam featured tighter anti-malpractice protocols, including question serialization—a system where each candidate receives the same questions but in different sequences, making it harder to copy answers.
While this measure may have reduced exam malpractice, it may also have contributed to lower performance, particularly among students heavily reliant on collaborative cheating strategies.
The Bigger Picture: Systemic Education Failures
According to Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, President of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), the root causes go beyond a single exam.
He highlights:
- Acute shortage of qualified teachers, especially in rural areas
- Underfunded public schools
- Lack of access to essential textbooks due to rising costs
- Poor teacher welfare, leading to demotivated educators
“When a teacher is worried about feeding his family, how can he give his best? Our educational system is under siege,” Danjuma remarked.
Shocking Stats from WASSCE 2025
| Metric | 2024 (%) | 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Credits incl. Eng & Math | 72.12% | 38.32% |
| Total Candidates | 1,624,187 | 1,969,313 |
| Passed English & Math | ~1.2M | 754,545 |
For further information on the WASSCE grading system and future reforms, visit WAEC's official website.
What Should Happen Next?
The mass failure in WASSCE 2025 is not just a failure of the students—it is a reflection of a broken educational system. Stakeholders across the board are urging:
- A government-led inquest into the administration of the exams
- Immediate rescheduling of the English Language and Mathematics papers where credible irregularities are confirmed
- Holistic educational reforms including teacher recruitment, training, infrastructure improvement, and better funding for public schools
Until these systemic issues are addressed, performance in national exams will continue to decline, leaving millions of students behind in a competitive global economy.
- How WAEC's Anti-Cheating Measures Are Affecting Student Performance
- 10 Proven Study Tips for WAEC Candidates
- JAMB vs WASSCE: Why Students Perform Better in One
