By DAYO ADESULU
LAGOS, Nigeria — August 7, 2025
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the temporary withdrawal of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results for school candidates, citing technical issues discovered during its post-release review process.
In a statement released on Thursday by the Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, the Council disclosed that a new anti-malpractice feature introduced during the exam may have caused the unexpected result discrepancies.
According to WAEC, the issue stems from its recent innovation known as “paper serialization,” a security measure designed to reduce examination malpractice. The method, which was applied to key subjects such as Mathematics, English Language, Biology, and Economics, was modeled after procedures used by a national exam body and aligned with international best practices.
However, after the results were officially released, an internal audit flagged “technical bugs” affecting the integrity of the scores. As a result, WAEC has temporarily blocked access to the result checker portal to allow for an immediate review and correction of the affected data.
Candidates Urged to Re-Check Results After 24 Hours
While acknowledging the disruption, the Council assured students and the general public that the issue is being treated with the highest level of urgency. WAEC has pledged to restore access and publish the corrected results within the next 24 hours.
“We extend our deep and sincere apologies to all affected candidates and the general public,” the statement read. “We appreciate their patience and understanding as we work diligently to resolve this matter with transparency and urgency.”
Candidates who had previously accessed their results are strongly advised to re-check after the review window, beginning 24 hours from the time of the announcement.
Innovation Meets Temporary Setback
WAEC noted that the deployment of paper serialization, while forward-thinking, encountered unforeseen challenges that prompted the result recall. The system was expected to bolster exam credibility by making it harder for candidates to collude, but the glitches have forced a pause to ensure fairness.
Despite the setback, WAEC insists it remains “a responsive body that is sensitive to fairness and professionalism.” The Council reaffirmed its commitment to integrity, transparency, and the continuous improvement of its assessment processes.
Public Reaction and Outlook
The development has generated concern among students, parents, and school administrators, many of whom had already begun celebrating or planning based on the released results. Social media has seen mixed reactions, with many calling for prompt resolution and clear communication from the Council.
Education analysts, however, have praised WAEC’s transparency in owning up to the glitch and its prompt efforts to resolve the matter.
WAEC Reiterates Commitment to Quality Education
WAEC concluded its statement by thanking the public for its trust and reiterated its pledge to uphold excellence in service delivery to Nigerian students.
“Thank you, for always counting on our integrity and reposing confidence in us to render quality service to the Nigerian child,” the Council stated.
Affected candidates are advised to remain calm and await further communication from WAEC via its official channels.
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