The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has said that efforts to prevent exam malpractice were responsible for the delay in conducting this year’s English Language paper.
In a statement released on Thursday, the exam body admitted that many students experienced disruptions during Paper 2 of the English Language exam, which was originally scheduled for May 28 but ended up starting hours late in several centres across Nigeria.
The delay caused frustration among students and schools, with some candidates forced to sit the paper late into the evening.
WAEC’s spokesperson, Moyosola Adesina, said the postponement was mainly due to stricter measures aimed at stopping question paper leaks. “While we succeeded in safeguarding the examination materials, this inadvertently affected the timeliness and smooth execution of the process,” she said.
In addition to anti-malpractice efforts, the council pointed to logistical challenges, security concerns, and sociocultural issues as other reasons for the disruption.
WAEC offered an apology to students, parents, and schools for the inconvenience and said it was working with security agencies to prevent similar delays in the future.
“We understand the importance of conducting examinations on schedule, and recognise the impacts delays have on candidates, their schools, and their families,” Adesina added.
The 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates began on April 24 and will run until June 20. WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of its exams and ensuring academic excellence across the region.