WAEC’s attempt to stop leaks of the 2025 SSCE English Language exam backfired, leaving students across Nigeria writing in near darkness. On Wednesday night, many students sat for the exam without proper lighting, relying only on phone flashlights and rechargeable lamps. Reports came from Lagos, Benue, Kwara, and Delta States, where students waited hours for the arrival of the exam officer bringing the delayed objective section. Some exams started as late as 8 or 9 pm and ended close to 11 pm. In some schools, students had to return the next day to complete the exam because the paper didn’t arrive on time.
WAEC’s spokesperson said the delay aimed to prevent exam malpractice and safeguard the exam papers but admitted that logistical challenges, security concerns, and sociocultural issues caused the disruption. While the exam body avoided paper leaks, allowing students to use phones for lighting may have opened the door to cheating, especially among tech-savvy students with easy access to online resources. At the same time, students faced emotional and physical strain from the long wait and poor conditions, which could hurt their performance.
The situation recalls recent problems with the 2025 JAMB exams, where early start times and logistical errors frustrated students and parents alike. The hope now is that these disruptions won’t lead to widespread failure in the English Language exams this year.
