Massive Drop in WAEC Results Sparks National Outcry: Parents, Educators Demand Exam Review

 

A dramatic drop in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) pass rate has triggered nationwide concern. According to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), only 38.32% of candidates passed with credits in at least five subjects, including English and Mathematics. This represents a significant fall from the 72.12% pass rate recorded in 2024.

Key Factors Cited for the Decline:

▪ Poor Exam Conditions: Parents and advocates have blamed irregular exam conditions, such as students writing late at night in mosquito-infested classrooms.

▪ New Exam Format: An anonymous WAEC source indicated that the introduction of "serialization," which randomizes the order of questions for each student to curb cheating, may have negatively impacted performance.

▪ Systemic Issues: Other commentators point to deeper problems in the education sector, including teacher shortages, unaffordable textbooks, and poor welfare for educators.

Public Reaction and Calls for Action:

Parents and education stakeholders are demanding a review or outright cancellation of the exams. The President of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, has called for urgent reforms to address the systemic issues in education.

As of the article's publication date, no official statement has been released by WAEC or the Federal Ministry of Education in response to the outcry.