The ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), has been hit by repeated delays across several centres, leaving candidates in some locations to complete their papers late into the night.
The disruptions, which have triggered concern among parents, school administrators and education stakeholders, come barely a year after a similar incident that saw students writing examinations as late as midnight.
In Lagos State, particularly around Lagos Island and the Lekki axis, several centres reportedly experienced significant setbacks this week. On Monday, Physics Papers 1 and 2, scheduled for 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., were delayed for hours, with some candidates reportedly finishing the second paper around 8 p.m.
The situation worsened on Wednesday during the General Mathematics examination. The essay paper, set for 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and the objective paper scheduled for 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., were both reportedly concluded only around 10 p.m.
By Thursday evening, candidates due to sit for Agricultural Science Practical were still waiting for examination materials long after the scheduled start time, with some centres attributing the delay to late arrival of question papers.
A school principal, speaking anonymously, described the recurring disruption as deeply concerning, warning of its impact on students’ mental and emotional well-being.
“Why are we experiencing this again after what happened last year? Apart from security concerns in the country, these delays have psychological effects on candidates,” he said, adding that students are forced to write exams hours after their scheduled time.
A parent in Lekki also criticised the development, saying it was affecting students’ welfare and raising questions about examination management.
“My child got home around 10 p.m. on Wednesday. We expected lessons would have been learnt from last year,” he said.
The situation has sparked widespread reactions on social media, where users complained about late exam starts, shortages of materials, and concerns about student safety as candidates return home late at night.
While WAEC has not issued an official statement, an official who spoke informally acknowledged the challenges, attributing them to unforeseen circumstances and assuring that efforts were underway to resolve the issues.
Stakeholders are now urging the examination body to provide clear explanations and implement urgent reforms to prevent a repeat of the disruptions.
