By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
Comrade Olushola Oladoja – led leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has slammed West African Examinations Council (WAEC) over the late hour conduct of the English Language paper examination on Wednesday, May 28, following an alleged leakage of the examination questions.
NANS said that the leakage and subsequent postponement of the examination to late period of 4:00 to 7:00 pm yesterday attested to the shocking level of insensitivity and a gross disregard for the safety of candidates, particularly those in rural communities, by the examination body.
The Daily Crucible reports that there was widespread confusion, frustration and anger across several exam centres in Nigeria as candidates sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) were subjected to hours-long delays in writing the English Language paper.
The exam, scheduled to begin at 9:00 am, did not commence until midday in multiple locations and in some places, the examination begun around 4pm, spilling into night falls with unpleasant reports of candidates sitting for the paper as late as 11:45 pm using torchlight to barely illuminate the halls.
The late hour examination, which triggered anger among parents and set off an online backlash, occurred in southwestern states, including Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, and Osun.
However, reacting in a statement by Comrade Samson Ajasa Adeyemi, the NANS National spokesperson condemning the WAEC over the disruption, NANS noted that the decision to hold examinations at such late hours put the students to grave risk —many of whom must have to navigate unsafe routes to and from examination centers.
According to him, the delay was also capable of disrupting the students’ psychological preparedness and even undermining the integrity of the exam process.
NANS, therefore demanded accountability and called on WAEC to identify and hold responsible all individuals or groups involved in the leakage of examination questions.
NANS Full Text….
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), under the leadership of Comrade Olushola Oladoja strongly condemns the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) over the undue delay of the English Language paper today, allegedly due to the leakage of examination questions. This development, which resulted in the postponement of the examination to an absurdly late period of 4:00 to 7:00 PM, demonstrates a shocking level of insensitivity and a gross disregard for the safety and well-being of Nigerian students, particularly those in rural communities.
The decision to hold examinations at such late hours not only endangers students—many of whom must navigate unsafe routes to and from examination centers—but also disrupts their psychological preparedness and undermines the integrity of the process. WAEC, as a long-standing examination body, is expected to be a beacon of professionalism, preparedness, and efficiency. The repeated incidents of examination paper leakage are a clear indication of systemic failures in WAEC’s security measures and operations. NANS strongly believes that these lapses tarnish the credibility of our educational system and unfairly burden Nigerian students, who are already grappling with numerous challenges.
We demand accountability, urging WAEC to identify and hold responsible all individuals or groups involved in the leakage of examination questions. WAEC must implement stricter security protocols to prevent future occurrences, leveraging technology, and enhancing staff training to safeguard the integrity of its examinations. Furthermore, WAEC must issue a public apology to all affected students and their families for the undue stress and inconvenience caused by this delay. Concrete steps must also be taken to ensure the safety of students traveling home late from examination centers, particularly those in rural areas.
The academic future of our students must not be jeopardized by administrative inefficiencies or institutional negligence. WAEC must take immediate and decisive steps to rebuild trust and ensure that such incidents do not reoccur. NANS remains committed to advocating for the rights and welfare of Nigerian students and will not hesitate to escalate this matter if tangible actions are not taken promptly.
*Signed:*
Comrade Samson Ajasa Adeyemi
NANS National PRO
09037935067
nansnationalbody@gmail.com
