Zara LianneNigerian Mum Questions WAEC Over Mass Failure in English and Maths: “How Do You Expect Children to Pass an Exam Written at Night?”
A concerned Nigerian mother has spoken out over the mass failure recorded in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), particularly in English Language and Mathematics, calling on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to take full responsibility.
In a widely circulated video, the woman criticized WAEC’s logistical failure, highlighting the controversial incident where students sat for English Paper II and III at night, an occurrence she believes significantly contributed to the poor performance.
“All you good mothers, please come out. This is not right. The students who passed WAEC this year are very few. Most of them failed Maths and English. Is that how it should be? They started English in the night and finished late into the night—how can children pass under such conditions?” she said emotionally.
The mother decried the situation, describing the 2025 examination process as fundamentally flawed.
“Where else in the world are students made to write exams at night? All the papers written this year were badly managed. Maths was bad, English was also bad. Mothers, don’t say it doesn’t concern you—because if it doesn’t today, it may tomorrow.”
WAEC Results Show Sharp Decline in Candidate Performance
WAEC released the 2025 WASSCE results on Monday, August 4, revealing a significant drop in student performance. Out of 1,969,313 candidates, only 754,545 students (38.32%) obtained credits and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
This represents a sharp decline from the 72.12% success rate recorded in the 2024 examination, prompting concerns from parents, educators, and education advocates across the country.
Exam Written by Torchlight and Candles
The outrage dates back to May 28, 2025, when videos emerged on social media showing students writing the English Language Paper II and III late at night using torchlights and candles. According to reports, the exam—originally scheduled for 4:00 PM—did not commence until 7:00 PM, ending around 9:00 PM.
WAEC later apologized for the delay, citing security measures against exam malpractice and question leakage as the reason for the rescheduling. Despite public outcry and appeals for the affected paper to be cancelled or rescheduled, WAEC proceeded with marking and scoring the script.
Calls for Accountability
The woman’s comments echo the growing frustration among Nigerian parents over the handling of this year’s WASSCE and its implications for students’ futures.
“Let us raise our voices so they know this cannot be allowed to happen again. If we keep silent, our children will continue to suffer.”
Several state governments, parents’ associations, and civil society groups have also called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the night exam and its broader impact on the credibility of the results.
