The ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), conducted by the West African Examinations Council, has been disrupted by significant delays across several examination centres, forcing some candidates to sit for papers late into the evening and, in some cases, close to nightfall.
The situation has triggered concerns among parents, school administrators and education stakeholders, particularly as similar incidents were reported during previous examination cycles.
Investigations at several centres in Lagos, including locations on Lagos Island and within the Lekki axis, indicated that delays became more severe during the week. On Monday, candidates scheduled to sit for Physics Papers 2 and 1 between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. reportedly experienced lengthy postponements, with some not beginning the examination until around 8 p.m.
The disruption continued on Wednesday during the General Mathematics examination. Candidates who were expected to complete both the essay and objective sections during the day reportedly remained at examination centres until about 10 p.m. before concluding the papers.
Reports from some centres on Thursday also indicated that candidates waiting to sit for Agricultural Science Practical examinations experienced further delays as examination materials had not arrived several hours after the scheduled commencement time.
The development has generated criticism from stakeholders who argue that the recurring challenges are affecting students’ welfare, concentration and overall examination performance. School administrators expressed disappointment that similar issues have resurfaced despite expectations that lessons would have been learned from previous disruptions.
Parents have also voiced concerns about the safety of students returning home late at night, especially in a country where security concerns remain a major issue. Many questioned how candidates could maintain focus and perform effectively after spending several hours waiting for examination materials and supervisors.
The issue has attracted widespread attention on social media, where users shared accounts of delayed examinations, shortages of question papers and concerns about the management of the exercise. Some posts alleged that candidates waited for extended periods before invigilators arrived, while others raised concerns about additional costs imposed on students for examination materials.
Responding to the growing concerns, a WAEC official acknowledged that the examination body was aware of the disruptions and attributed them to unforeseen circumstances. According to the official, efforts are ongoing to address the challenges and restore normal operations.
However, WAEC has not yet released an official public statement explaining the exact causes of the delays or outlining measures being taken to prevent further disruptions.
