The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has said its efforts to curb examination malpractice were responsible for the delay in administering the 2025 English Language paper, held on May 28.
In a statement issued on Thursday, WAEC acknowledged the disruption experienced by candidates during the conduct of Paper 2 of the English Language examination, which was held hours behind schedule at several centres across Nigeria. The exam formed part of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, which began on April 24 and is scheduled to end on June 20.
Many students were forced to write the paper late into the evening, prompting widespread complaints over the prolonged waiting times.
The examination body admitted that its intensified focus on preventing examination malpractice—particularly the leakage of question papers—contributed to the delay.
“While we succeeded in safeguarding the examination materials, this inadvertently affected the timeliness and smooth execution of the process,” WAEC’s spokesperson Moyosola Adesina said.
WAEC also cited additional contributing factors, including logistical setbacks, security concerns, and sociocultural challenges that impacted coordination and timing.
The council said it is working closely with security agencies to prevent a recurrence of such delays in future examinations. It extended its apologies to students, schools, and parents for the disruption, thanking all stakeholders for their patience and cooperation during what it called a “challenging period.”
“We understand the importance of conducting examinations on schedule, and recognise the impacts delays have on candidates, their schools, and their families,” Adesina added.
WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the integrity of its examinations and to promoting academic excellence across the West African sub-region.
Chioma Kalu
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