The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued an apology and urged candidates to recheck their 2025 Senior School Certificate results after discovering technical errors linked to a new anti-cheating system. The announcement, made Thursday, follows public concerns over irregularities in scores for Mathematics, English Language, Biology, and Economics—core subjects critical for university admissions across West Africa.
WAEC, a regional body overseeing standardized testing in Nigeria, Ghana, and neighboring countries, attributed the glitches to “paper serialization,” a security measure introduced this year to combat exam fraud. The system, modeled after practices used by other national examination boards, assigns unique identifiers to test papers to track potential leaks or duplication. While aligning with global assessment standards, the rollout inadvertently caused inaccuracies during data processing, prompting an internal audit after results were published.
“We deeply regret the inconvenience caused,” the council stated, confirming that access to its online results portal has been temporarily suspended while engineers resolve the issue. Students who already accessed their scores are advised to revisit the platform after 24 hours for updated outcomes. Over 1.5 million candidates typically sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) annually, making it a pivotal credential for higher education and employment prospects.
The council emphasized its commitment to fairness, noting the swift correction of errors reflects its “responsiveness to integrity and professionalism.” Rising exam malpractice in the region, including question paper leaks and impersonation, has pressured education authorities to adopt stricter safeguards. WAEC did not clarify whether the bugs affected all test-takers or specific cohorts but assured transparency throughout the resolution process.
Educators and parents have welcomed the swift acknowledgment of the issue, though some expressed frustration over delays in accessing verified results. “Errors happen, but timely communication is crucial to avoid undue stress for students,” said Lagos-based school administrator Adeola Martins. WAEC’s handling of the incident will likely influence public confidence as it balances technological innovation with the precision required for large-scale assessments.
The council concluded its statement by reaffirming its mission to serve “the Nigerian child” and uphold trust in its evaluation processes, signaling no long-term changes to its anti-malpractice strategies despite the temporary setback.
