…“We Deserve Better”: Students Speak Out After Writing WAEC Exams Under Extreme Conditions
..“This Is Not an Exam, It’s Punishment” – Netizens Slam WAEC Over Poor Logistics and Safety
An alleged English Language paper leak has triggered national outrage, as thousands of students were forced to write the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) well into the night—some relying on phone torchlights to complete their answers.
As late as 10:30 PM, students in states like Osun, Kwara, Taraba, and Rivers were still inside examination halls. In some cases, exams extended until 1:00 AM.
WAEC’s silence and lack of preparation have provoked widespread condemnation from students, parents, and the public.
On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, WAEC’s English Language paper, scheduled for 9:00 AM, was delayed by several hours in multiple states due to an alleged leak.
The exam body reportedly reprinted a new set of questions to preserve the exam’s integrity—but at the expense of students’ safety, mental health, and basic dignity.
Affected states include Taraba, Osun, Kwara, Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Ogun, Delta, and others.
Students Left in Chaos
In Eleme LGA of Rivers State, students at Community Secondary School Eteo began writing their paper at 8:00 PM. In Osun and Kwara states, many finished around 11:00 PM or later.
“Imagine going for an exam scheduled for 8:00 AM and writing it at 8:00 PM. What can be more traumatic than this?” – A concerned parent said.
Another parent from Offa, Kwara State shared her fear:
“My son who is writing the examination in Osun State said he was told that he would be in the hall till midnight. I don’t know where my son will sleep.”
Fear, Frustration, and Torchlights
Photos and videos circulating on social media show students writing in pitch darkness, using torchlights from their phones to fill answer sheets. No electricity. No emergency lighting. No support.
“My daughter finished her exam by 9:00 PM. It’s terrible,” a Lagos-based parent told reporters. “I learned some papers leaked and new questions had to be printed. Still, this is no excuse.”
“We Came With Cutlasses for Protection”
One user, @Omolomo_o, described how dangerous the situation became:
“My husband said he can’t allow our daughter write it because of her safety. He had no choice but to follow her to the exam hall. He went with a cutlass… Other parents were there with sticks and cutlasses too. They said they would all go home in groups.”
Despite widespread panic, WAEC failed to release a public statement for hours. Attempts by FTN to reach WAEC PRO Moyosola Adesina were largely ignored.
X.com (Twitter) Reactions: Unfiltered and Furious
READ ALSO: Blacklist CBT centres, candidates guilty of exam malpractices – FG tells JAMB, WAEC, NECO
Social media erupted with raw emotion. Here’s what Nigerians are saying:
@0_basslet:
“WAEC is just dispatching theory section of English Language papers to schools in Osogbo… It’s 8:00 PM already. When will students finish writing? 2:00 AM?”
@SmilequeenOfe:
“They brought paper by like 7:38. They are currently in school writing their exam.”
@Daniekkllh:
“When dem start to write WAEC for night?”
@Abi_dehmih21:
“This is very absurd and barbaric!!”
@TheOyebanji:
“As I type this, some students are still writing WAEC with torches around them.”
@Merald_Ayomi:
“Is this a joke?”
@UgochiEze9:
“Never have I seen WAEC being written at night.”
This latest WAEC disaster follows the recent JAMB UTME glitch that saw over 336,000 students resit the exam.
That failure led to the tragic suicide of a student in Lagos. Now, WAEC is at the center of another national embarrassment—with unconfirmed reports of at least one student death during the ongoing WASSCE.
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