Waec
By Olayiwola Mercy
Educators and stakeholders are calling for an overhaul of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) management team following a significant grading error in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The error led to incorrect results being released, showing a pass rate of 38.32%, only to be later corrected to 62.96% after a thorough review.
The mistake occurred due to a technical glitch in the paper serialization process, which affected subjects like Mathematics, English Language, Biology, and Economics. A wrongly assigned serialized code file led to incorrect scoring of objective papers. WAEC has apologized for the error, attributing it to an internal mistake during the implementation of their paper serialization innovation.
The error sparked widespread outrage, with many stakeholders questioning the credibility of WAEC’s examination process. Educators and parents are demanding an independent investigation into the matter, citing concerns over the integrity of the examination system. Some have also attributed the error to low investments in the education sector, inadequate infrastructure, and poor remuneration of teachers.
WAEC has taken steps to address the issue, including releasing corrected results, which showed a significant jump in pass rates. The Head of WAEC Nigeria, Dr. Amos Dangut, has offered a heartfelt apology to affected candidates, parents, and educators. WAEC has assured stakeholders that measures are being put in place to prevent similar errors in future examinations.
Stakeholders are calling for a thorough investigation into the matter to determine the extent of the error’s impact. They are also demanding a reshuffle of WAEC’s management team to ensure accountability and prevent future errors. Additionally, stakeholders want enhanced security measures and quality control processes to maintain the integrity of the examination system.
