Stakeholders in the education sector said, the mass failure in the 2025 West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) stem from systemic issues attributed to the examination body, parents and the students

The stakeholders spoke in separate interviews in Abuja on Thursday.

Founder, Exam Ethics Marshall International (EEMI), Ike Onyekere faulted the systemic malpractice and deep-rooted corruption within Nigeria’s examination ecosystem.

The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) had revealed a sharp decline in performance in the 2025 SSE results compared to the previous year.

Out of a total of 1,969,313 candidates who sat for the examination across 23,554 schools, only 754,545 candidates, representing 38.

Onyechere decried the 38.32 per cent credit pass rate recorded in this year’s examinations as a “very poor result,”

He, however, noted that the decline was not unexpected due to challenges encountered during the exams.

According to him, there were serious logistical issues during the exams such as power outages, poor supervision, and lack of proper oversight which contributed to students’ poor showing.

“I am not surprised because these logistical issues, as critical as they were, they were ignored during and after the exams.

“No person talked about how those kinds of issues should be addressed in terms of how they affected the performance of those students.

“No person talked about what happened after their papers were collected from them, when they did finish their allotted time and when there was no light.

“So these are some of the questions we need to address,” he said.

Onyechere further criticised students’ growing reliance on “magic centres” and malpractice rings, arguing that many students no longer prepare sincerely for their examinations.

He said most of the students have their mind fixed on magic centres, and other forms of malpractices unfettered and with no consequences.

He accused WAEC and its sister examination body of enabling malpractice by repeatedly failing to name and shame individuals and institutions complicit in exam fraud.

“Every year, WAEC releases statements saying schools were involved in malpractices but where are the names? Who are these schools? Who are the supervisors?

“They recycle these supervisors and protect them,” he said

Citing his experience in the Federal Ministry of Education, he alleged that past attempts to publish and blacklist indicted schools and individuals were stifled.

He praised the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its comparative transparency, saying, “at least, JAMB names CBT centres and schools caught in malpractice and takes them to court.

Onyechere admonished WAEC to take cue from JAMB, in addressing the menace of malpractices.

For meaningful change, he called on WAEC to publish names, sanction schools, blacklist corrupt officials, and take concrete action, not just about release of statements.

He also advised students to reject malpractice, rather, discover and develop their true talents.

Also, Dr Jekayinfa Olatunji, a Fellow with the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), called for a national education emergency roundtable, reforms in exam preparation strategies, and closer monitoring of learning standards at all levels.

Olatunji said until tangible solutions are implemented, the futures of millions of Nigerian students would hang in the balance.

“In 2024, no fewer than 1,805,216 students sat for waec exams out of which 1,332,089 students passed at least 5 subjects including English Language and Mathematics at credit level and above, representing 72.12 per cent pass.

“Ordinarily, the results may seem good, but, what about the remaining 27.88 per cent who didn’t get five credits with English Language and Mathematics?

“The students might not have progressed in their education that year.

“Now, the worst has happened in 2025. Out of 1,969,313 students who sat for WASSCE exams, only 38.32 per cent passed five subjects including English Language and Mathematics.

“The remaining 68.68 per cent didn’t pass five subjects including English Language and Mathematics.

“What this means is that only 754,641 students out of 1,969,313 succeeded in having scores that could earn them tertiary institution admissions,” he said

He advised the education stakeholders to take proactive steps to forestall a repeat of the woeful performance in 2026.

Similarly, a civil servant and a parent, Ijeoma Osita, attributed the poor performance in the examination to both students’ attitudes and the role of parents in fostering academic irresponsibility.

Osita decried increasing culture of academic laziness among students and misplaced priorities by parents.

She further lamented that the quality of learning was fast diminishing due to an over-dependence on technology without critical thinking and originality.

According to her, many students no longer commit themselves to studying or building academic discipline, choosing instead to rely heavily on shortcuts such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), examination malpractice, and plagiarism.

“From what I have observed, many students are not ready to go the extra mile to study, build their capacity and equip themselves academically.

“They rely so much on AI and ‘expo’. Unfortunately parents endorse the negative trend, in having their children pass exams.

“They fail to harness the potential in their children by encouraging them to study harder, or even employ extra hands to coach them in the areas of weakness.

“The parents prefer to hire “machinery,” sometimes to write exams for their children.

“Some will even encourage and finance their children to leave the school, where they have attended for years, to register them in ‘miracle centres’,” she said.

She urged parents to take more responsibility in guiding their children, stressing the importance of discipline, hard work and quality education over superficial success.

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By Elijah Oguche, Abuja

The Federal Ministry of Education has announced the resolution of a technical issue affecting the 2025 West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations results.

The issue occurred during post-release processing in subjects where paper serialisation was implemented as part of WAEC’s exam security measures.

A statement by Folasade Boriowo, the director of press of the ministry on Thursday said the Ministry commended the West African Examinations Council for its swift response, transparency, and professionalism in resolving the glitch.

The Ministry also appreciated the patience of affected candidates and assured the public of its continued pursuit of fairness and credibility in assessment processes.

“This development reinforces the Honourable Minister’s broader education reform agenda, which prioritizes examination integrity across all bodies under the Ministry’s supervision, particularly WAEC and the National Examinations Council (NECO). In line with this, both bodies are set to commence a phased rollout of Computer-Based Testing beginning with objective components in November 2026.

“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.

“Dr. Alausa emphasized that safeguarding the integrity of examinations is not optional—it is essential. Upholding high standards, he noted, protects the future of our young people and sustains Nigeria’s global reputation,” Boriowo stated.

By Tony Obiechina Abuja 

The federation government has commended Miss Nafisa Abdullah Aminu, a 17-year-old student from Yobe State, for emerging as the World’s Best in English Language Skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London, United Kingdom.

Minister of Education, Dr.

Representing Nigeria through the Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), Miss Nafisa outshone over 20,000 participants from 69 countries, including native English-speaking nations.

Her victory is not only a personal milestone but a resounding affirmation of the Renewed Hope Agenda for Education championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which continues to empower Nigerian youth to compete and excel on the global stage.

According to the statement, “This extraordinary achievement not only brings pride to the nation but also underscores the effectiveness of the education-focused components of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

” The President’s unwavering belief in human capital development through sustained investment in the education sector is beginning to yield global recognition, as demonstrated by Nafisa’s remarkable success.

The Ministers jointly commended Nafisa for her brilliance, determination, and discipline. They described her victory as a “proud moment for Nigeria and a strong endorsement of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to revitalise the education sector and raise globally competitive students.”

The Ministry extends heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, whose visionary investment in instructional materials and education reform has created an enabling environment for students like Nafisa to thrive. This achievement is a shining testimony to the renewed collaboration between the Federal Government and sub-national governments, and a clear indication that our shared commitment to quality education is bearing fruit.

Special commendation was further extended to the Yobe State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Muhammad Sani Idriss, for his tireless efforts in strengthening the state’s educational institutions and supporting academic excellence. Also acknowledged is the vital role played by the management and staff of NTIC in nurturing Nafisa’s academic growth. Eulogising the dedication and guidance of her parents and teachers, the Ministry noted that they have played a pivotal role in shaping her academic journey, exemplifying the power of community in nurturing excellence.

“This is not just a personal victory; it is a national milestone that affirms the capabilities of Nigerian students to excel on the global stage,” the Ministers stated.

Miss Nafisa’s success reflects the kind of youth the Ministry is determined to raise—globally competitive, intellectually empowered, and rooted in national pride. It reinforces the Ministry’s agenda to continue investing in instructional materials, teacher training, and student development to ensure that Nigerian children receive education that meets international standards.

The Federal Ministry of Education encourages students across the country to be inspired by Nafisa’s achievement and reaffirms its commitment to building a future where many more Nigerian students can stand tall among the world’s brightest.

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