Education

Students, parents, educationists berate WAEC over results review

Published

9 months ago

August 8, 2025

Students, parents, educationists berate WAEC over results review

Students, parents, educationists, and stakeholders in the education sector have criticized the review of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination results by the management of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The examination body had on Monday released the results, which were widely regarded as the worst in 10 years. Only 754,545 candidates, representing 38.32%, obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

Newstrends learned that this year’s results have triggered a flood of complaints from relevant bodies in the education sector, largely due to the mass failure in the English Language subject, which appeared to prompt the examination body to conduct a review.

In a statement, however, the examination body attributed the review to what it described as “technical glitches” encountered in the four subjects conducted with a paper serialization approach aimed at curbing examination malpractice.

“As part of our efforts to curb examination malpractice, the Council embarked on an innovation (paper serialization) already deployed by a national examination body. It is also worth noting that this is in line with best practices in assessment. The paper serialization was carried out in Mathematics, English Language, Biology, and Economics. However, an internal post-result release procedure revealed some technical bugs in the results,” the statement read.

The council stressed that these technical glitches led to a situation where result-checkers could not access the portal to check their results. It assured them that the challenges would be resolved within the next 24 hours (today). The council also advised candidates who had previously checked their results to recheck them.

“The Council, being a responsive body that is sensitive to fairness and professionalism, has decided to urgently review and correct the technical glitches that led to the situation. As a result, access to the WASSCE (SC) 2025 results has been temporarily denied on the result checker portal. We extend our deep and sincere apologies to all affected candidates and the general public. We appreciate their patience and understanding as we work diligently to resolve this matter with transparency and urgency within the next twenty-four (24) hours. On this note, candidates who have previously checked their results are advised to re-check them after 24 hours from now. WAEC remains committed to upholding excellence, fairness, and transparency in all our assessment processes,” the statement read.

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Education ministry confirms WAEC result glitch

The Federal Ministry of Education confirmed that a technical glitch occurred and commended the West African Examinations Council for its “swift response, transparency, and professionalism in resolving the glitch,” which affected the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results.

It added that the updated results will be accessible via the result checker portal within the next 24 hours. The ministry, however, assured the public of its commitment to maintaining the integrity of national examinations.

In a press release, the ministry said the issue, which emerged during post-release processing of results—particularly in subjects where paper serialization was introduced—has been addressed following a full briefing of the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa.

The statement also acknowledged the patience of affected candidates and emphasized the ministry’s “continued pursuit of fairness and credibility in assessment processes.”

This incident, the ministry noted, aligns with the minister’s broader reform agenda, which places examination integrity at the core of education policy.

“As part of this agenda, WAEC and the National Examinations Council (NECO) will begin a phased rollout of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) starting in November 2026, beginning with objective components. The adoption of CBT represents a critical step toward curbing malpractice, preventing question leakages, and restoring public trust in the examination system. It is a necessary reform to ensure Nigerian students are assessed strictly on merit and that their certificates retain credibility both locally and internationally,” the statement read.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working with WAEC, NECO, and other stakeholders to build an assessment system that reflects the true abilities of Nigerian students and strengthens public confidence in the nation’s education framework.

A parent, Mr. Samuel Ese, criticized the decision to review the results, calling it the “dumbest move” driven by complaints of mass failure. He urged parents to guide their children to study and not to cheat or depend on favoritism to pass examinations.

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“Those who have failed, have failed. They should go back and rewrite the exams if they have failed, not look for ways to review results to favor those who have connections,” he said. “Such a decision is one of the dumbest moves to review the results; it means that the government is one of the problems we have in the educational sector. Parents should work on their children, allow your children to study, and don’t encourage your children to cheat in order to succeed.”

Another parent, Mrs. Benedicta Godsple, said the idea of reviewing the results because of mass failure is not the best way to tackle educational deficiencies. Instead, she said, the government should work on ways to strengthen the educational system.

She said that if the mistake is not from the examination body, candidates should be encouraged to prepare properly and rewrite the exams next year.

“Why is it called an examination? It is so because if you don’t pass, you can prepare to rewrite next time and pass and not think of reviewing the results to favor anybody. Our educational system should be strengthened, our secondary education should be given attention, and quality teachers should be employed to properly guide our children. If these are done, they will pass external exams,” she said.

Another parent, Malam Aminu Ahmad of Area 11, Abuja, expressed optimism, saying he remains calm about the review process.

“My only hope and prayer is that Allah makes it a successful and hitch-free process. Even if they eventually review it, my daughter and I believe her results will remain unchanged. She scored As and Bs, and they’re going to stay that way,” he said. “Again, may the process be just and fair to all the students.”

Hajiya Fauziyya, another parent, expressed concerns over the timing and necessity of the decision to review the results, saying her child’s results must not be affected.

“I think something must be wrong with WAEC. They should not try that thing, it’s bad and ill-timed. My daughter had As in her result, so now what are they even saying? I don’t know how much I spent on her education. You know it’s a private school; we pay for everything,” she said.

According to Abubakar Adamu, a father of one of the students that sat for this year’s WAEC, his son passed the examination with flying colors. He said his fear is that the review shouldn’t affect those who have already met the requirements for university admission.

“My son has eight credits and one pass. I have no problem if the examination council decides to review the results; the only issue is that those that have made it shouldn’t be negatively affected,” he said.

Students, parents, educationists berate WAEC over results review

Daily Trust

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Education

Lagos Rejects JAMB’s 150 Cut-Off Mark, Sets 185 for State Universities

Published

22 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos Rejects JAMB’s 150 Cut-Off Mark, Sets 185 for State Universities

The Lagos State Government has announced that candidates who score below 185 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will not be admitted into any of the state-owned universities, despite the lower benchmark approved by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, disclosed this on Wednesday during a ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa to mark the third anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

Sule rejected JAMB’s approved minimum cut-off mark of 150 for university admissions, describing it as too low for institutions owned by Lagos State.

“To us in Lagos State, the cut-off marks approved by JAMB look too low for our universities. None of our three universities is admitting any student who scored below 185 in the UTME,” the commissioner stated.

He argued that Lagos State could not afford to lower its educational standards to align with states classified as educationally disadvantaged.

“For JAMB to announce 150 as the cut-off mark out of the 400 obtainable marks in the UTME for this year’s admission seekers is very low. Lagos cannot be considered educationally disadvantaged to the extent of bringing its cut-off mark down to meet what Sokoto or Zamfara states require,” Sule added.

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The development comes after JAMB and heads of tertiary institutions approved 150 as the minimum benchmark for university admissions during the 2026 policy meeting on admissions into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

However, under Nigeria’s admission system, universities retain the right to set higher cut-off marks depending on competitiveness, available spaces and institutional standards.

Lagos State currently operates three major universities: Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH).

According to Sule, the expansion from one state university to three was part of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s broader strategy to improve access to higher education while maintaining quality.

“Increasing our universities from one to three is still part of what the governor is doing to provide more educational platforms and opportunities for Lagos residents,” he said.

“And increasing the number to four is still part of this effort by the state government to give all admission seekers the opportunity to get tertiary education in Lagos.”

The commissioner also revealed that the Lagos State Government was already working with the Ministry of Health on legislation to establish a University of Medicine and Health Sciences in the state.

If established, the proposed institution would become the fourth state-owned university in Lagos and is expected to strengthen medical education, healthcare research and manpower development in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

Sule stressed that the state government would continue investing heavily in education infrastructure, academic staffing and improved access to tertiary education without compromising standards.

Education stakeholders say Lagos State’s decision may increase competition among candidates seeking admission into its institutions, particularly LASU, which remains one of Nigeria’s most sought-after public universities.

The announcement also comes amid concerns over the performance of candidates in recent UTME examinations.

Recent statistics released by JAMB showed that a significant percentage of candidates scored below 200 in the last UTME exercise, sparking nationwide debate over declining academic performance and admission standards.

Despite criticism from some stakeholders, JAMB has maintained that the 150 benchmark merely represents the minimum national requirement and does not prevent universities from adopting higher standards.

Lagos Rejects JAMB’s 150 Cut-Off Mark, Sets 185 for State Universities

Education

WAEC Assures Hitch-Free 2026 WASSCE as NASU Protest Enters Day Two

Published

1 day ago

May 14, 2026

Trends Admin

WAEC Assures Hitch-Free 2026 WASSCE as NASU Protest Enters Day Two

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has reassured candidates, parents, school owners, and other stakeholders that the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will continue smoothly despite the ongoing nationwide protest by members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).

The assurance came amid growing concerns over a three-day industrial action embarked upon by NASU members across WAEC offices nationwide over allegations of management high-handedness, illegal recruitment practices, welfare concerns, and controversial pay policies.

The protest, which began on Wednesday at WAEC’s national headquarters in Yaba, Lagos, reportedly spread to several regional and state offices across the country, raising fears about possible disruptions to the ongoing examinations.

However, WAEC, in a statement signed by the Acting Head of Public Affairs for the Head of National Office, Moyosola F. Adesina, said the Council had already activated contingency plans to ensure that the 2026 WASSCE proceeds without interruption.

According to the examination body, discussions are currently ongoing with the aggrieved workers to address the issues raised by the union.

“While we are concerned about the rights of unions and staff to express their grievances, we are also committed to ensuring seamless and smooth conduct of the ongoing examination,” the statement read.

WAEC explained that some of the issues raised by NASU had either been misunderstood or misrepresented.

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The Council clarified that the recent adjustment in examination days was a direct consequence of the streamlining of WAEC subjects from 76 to 38, as well as the adoption of a hybrid mode of examination conduct.

It also dismissed allegations of arbitrary dismissals and punitive sanctions against workers, insisting that all disciplinary and career progression matters are handled strictly in line with the provisions of the WAEC Staff Handbook and relevant statutory regulations.

On the controversial recruitment of contract staff, WAEC said the engagement of contract Examination Officers and Assistant Examination Officers was introduced to help manage increasing workloads and improve operational efficiency across the sub-region.

“The engagement of contract staff is a strategic operational measure aimed at enhancing efficiency and ensuring the seamless conduct of the Council’s processes,” WAEC stated.

The Council further urged members of the public to disregard rumours and misinformation capable of creating panic among candidates and parents.

WAEC assured Nigerians that the integrity, credibility, and smooth conduct of the examination remain its top priority.

The Council also reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to delivering reliable educational assessments to students across Nigeria and other member countries, noting that it has sustained that mandate for over 74 years.

Meanwhile, NASU insisted that the protest would continue following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to WAEC management.

In a letter signed by NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, the union accused the management of unilateral decision-making, breach of seniority principles, suspension of staff upgrade programmes, and imposition of a minimum net pay policy without proper consultation.

The union also faulted the constitution of investigative panels without union involvement and expressed concerns over recent changes to the structure of the WASSCE examination.

NASU disclosed that its branches nationwide unanimously agreed during an online meeting to proceed with the industrial action after negotiations with management allegedly failed to produce satisfactory outcomes.

The union warned that the protest could be escalated if the management fails to address its demands.

Despite the labour dispute, WAEC maintained that the ongoing 2026 WASSCE remains stable and uninterrupted nationwide.

The Council disclosed that nearly two million candidates from more than 24,000 secondary schools are currently participating in the examination across Nigeria.

WAEC Assures Hitch-Free 2026 WASSCE as NASU Protest Enters Day Two

Education

Edo Varsity Suspends 27 Medical Students Over Exam Fraud

Published

1 day ago

May 14, 2026

Trends Admin

Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma

Edo Varsity Suspends 27 Medical Students Over Exam Fraud

The management of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, has approved the rustication of 27 medical students over allegations of examination misconduct and impersonation in the institution’s College of Medicine.

The affected students, drawn from the Departments of Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Anatomy, and Human Physiology, are in the 300, 400, and 500 levels.

The university stated that the disciplinary action will take effect from the 2025/2026 academic session, with the students handed rustication periods ranging from two to four semesters, depending on the severity of their offences.

The decision followed recommendations from the Mobile Disciplinary Committee of the College of Medicine for the 2024/2025 academic session, which investigated cases of alleged examination malpractice and impersonation during professional examinations.

The Registrar of the university, Mrs. Oluwayomi Agbebaku, confirmed the development in an official statement released on Wednesday, explaining that the affected students were found culpable of various forms of examination misconduct, including impersonation and other violations of academic regulations.

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She added that the sanctions were necessary to uphold academic integrity, maintain discipline, and preserve the credibility of professional training in the medical field.

The university further stated that the rusticated students will not be allowed to participate in any internal or external examinations until they have fully served their punishment.

It also explained that some of the students face additional academic restrictions, including non-upgrading of certain courses, while the result of at least one student will not be processed until completion of the rustication period.

However, the institution confirmed that one student was cleared of wrongdoing and exonerated after investigations, with his mobile phone returned following a stern warning.

The management of AAU reiterated its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on examination malpractice in Nigerian universities, particularly within sensitive professional programmes such as medicine and allied health sciences.

It stressed that it will continue to strengthen monitoring mechanisms during examinations and enforce strict disciplinary actions to deter future cases of impersonation and academic fraud.

The development highlights ongoing concerns about examination malpractice in Nigerian tertiary institutions, where authorities have increasingly adopted strict sanctions to protect the integrity of academic qualifications.

Education stakeholders continue to call for stronger supervision, improved invigilation systems, and stricter enforcement of examination rules to curb recurring cases of cheating and impersonation.