The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has once again come under intense public scrutiny following the abrupt shutdown of its result checker portal on Wednesday evening — a move the examination body attributed to “technical issues”.
The development has only added fuel to a raging fire of controversy surrounding the poor performance recorded in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), particularly in English Language. This year’s performance, which saw only 38.32% of the 1,969,313 candidates obtaining credit passes in five core subjects including English and Mathematics, is being described as the worst in over a decade.
Technical Glitch or Convenient Silence?
In a post via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @waecnigeria, WAEC announced:
“WAEC hereby informs the general public that the result checker portal @waecdirect.org is temporarily shut down due to technical issues.
However, the Council is working assiduously to ensure that candidates are able to access their results in the next 24 hours. We apologise for any inconvenience this might have caused you.”
The explanation, however, has done little to calm already agitated students, parents, and educators who have taken to social media in droves to question the integrity of the Council’s operations.
“We Wrote Exams at 8pm”
Many students attributed their failure in English Language to logistical failures that marred the conduct of the May 28 examination. Reports suggest the English paper started as late as 8pm in several centres, with poor lighting conditions, shortened exam duration, and general chaos.
On X, the outcry was widespread. User @_samad1 lamented:
“We wrote exams at 8 pm. We were given one hour or 30 minutes to answer questions that should last two and a half hours. There was no light, and everyone was in a hurry to leave. Please rethink.”
Others called for a comprehensive review of the English Language scripts, alleging that the grades do not reflect students’ abilities.
Mark Imohi (@sikimark) tweeted:
“It
is concerning that the English exam, which was delayed at centres nationwide, is now resulting in widespread failures. If JAMB could make amends, we hope you (WAEC) will take steps to rectify the situation. It was a national disgrace.”
Parents and Teachers Join the Protest
Beyond students, distraught parents have joined the campaign for a review. One parent, @Johnway11145073, tweeted:
“My daughter got five A1 and two B2, only to get D7 in English and Physics (withheld).”
Another X user, @DEYHOT_official, emotionally pleaded:
“WAEC, please I am begging, help us check the English Language exam again. I can’t accept this result. I struggled so hard to get money and pay for this exam, and now you failed me. This result is affecting my future.”
Demands for Accountability and Review
Many have pointed fingers at WAEC’s operational lapses, with some even demanding a total recall of the 2025 results. The pressure is mounting for the Council to conduct an independent review, particularly of the English and Mathematics scripts.
“The students who were robbed and given abysmal grades in English should tag the Presidency and Minister of Education to have an external body revise the whole exam process,” tweeted @e_okwori.
“We reject this year’s results, particularly the English and Maths. WAEC, please do the needful to avoid mass protests,” posted @pastorbtdaniels.
WAEC’s Silence Deepens Distrust
As at the time of this report, WAEC has not issued any statement addressing the widespread calls for re-marking or clarification on the grading process. The absence of transparency is further eroding public confidence in the examination body.
“Just like JAMB, WAEC is gambling with the future of Nigerians. If the majority of the D’s, E’s and F8’s awarded in English are rechecked, WAEC will pay dearly,” wrote @JayTrezy.
While some students hope that the portal’s reactivation will bring an unexpected correction of results, others fear the shutdown may be a tactic to suppress a scandal that is already spiralling out of control.
