The ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has been hit by severe administrative delays, forcing candidates in multiple examination centres to write their papers late into the night.

The disruptions have triggered widespread concern among parents, school administrators, and education stakeholders. The situation is particularly drawing criticism as it echoes similar logistical failures from the previous year, when candidates were also forced to sit for examinations as late as midnight.

Widespread Disruptions Across Key Centres

Reports from various examination centres in Lagos—particularly across Lagos Island and the Lekki axis—indicate that the delays intensified this week, affecting several core subjects:

• Physics: On Monday, the Physics theory and objective papers, originally scheduled to run from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., started hours behind schedule. Some candidates did not finish writing until around 8:00 p.m.

• General Mathematics: On Wednesday, the General Mathematics essay and objective papers experienced massive backlogs. Initially scheduled to conclude by late afternoon, the examination process dragged on until approximately 10:00 p.m.

• Agricultural Science: By Thursday evening, candidates waiting for the Agricultural Science Practical materials were left stranded for hours past the official start time, with supervisors citing non-arrival of examination papers.

Stakeholders Voice Safety and Psychological Concerns

School administrators and parents have expressed deep disappointment over the recurring logistical failures. An anonymous school principal highlighted that these extended delays place a heavy psychological burden on candidates, who must maintain focus for hours beyond their scheduled times. Security risks were also raised, given the current climate and the dangers of students commuting home late at night.

The issue has gained significant traction on social media. Parents and citizens have filed complaints regarding:

• Substantial delays in the arrival of supervisors and materials.

• Shortages of question papers at designated centres.

• Reports of some schools demanding unauthorized payments for examination equipment, such as mathematics sets.

WAEC Response and Call for Action

An official from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the council is aware of the operational hitches. The official attributed the delays to unforeseen circumstances and stated that measures are being taken to normalize the examination schedule.

While WAEC has yet to release an official public statement, education stakeholders are urgently calling on the examination body to clarify the root causes of these disruptions and implement immediate strategies to ensure student safety and examination integrity.